HSF partner promotions dip ahead of US merger

Herbert Smith Freehills has promoted 19 lawyers to partner in its 2025 round, including just five in London - the smallest UK cohort since 2019 and part of the firm’s leanest global round overall in seven years.

This year’s round is the smallest since 2018, when the firm made up 17 new partners. It’s also a sharp drop from the 27 promoted in 2024 and 32 in 2023.

The promotions, which take effect on 1 May, come just weeks after partners voted to approve its merger with US firm Kramer Levin, which is set to go live on 1 June 2025.

The leaner round is no doubt partly driven by the upcoming merger of the two partnerships, with the merged firm set to operate under a single profit pool from day one - a deeper integration than several past transatlantic tie-ups.

A&O’s tie-up with Shearman last year offers a useful precedent.

The firm implemented a major partnership restructure just months after the combination went live, cutting around 10% of its equity partners to streamline the business and align both legacy firms under a new all-equity partnership model, as first reported by Law.com.

Who made the grade in London

The five new London partners are:

• Eliza Eaton - Energy
• Krishna Shorewala - Funds and Asset Management
• Charlotte Whight - Energy and Infrastructure
• Joe Williams - Competition Disputes and Economic Regulation
• Shaun Williamson - M&A and Mining

The global round continues HSF’s focus on disputes, energy and infrastructure, all core areas for the firm as it gears up to launch HSF Kramer in June.

What they said

HSF’s global CEO Justin D’Agostino called the new cohort "exceptionally talented" and said they would "add depth to our global offering and client relationships."

Senior partner Rebecca Maslen-Stannage said the promotions reflected the firm’s "ongoing commitment to invest in and promote exceptional talent."

Alongside the internal promotions, the firm said it has made 23 lateral partner hires so far this financial year.