Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has made up 13 new partners, including two in London, as the New York giant becomes the latest US firm to announce its partner promotions.

The two new City partners are real estate lawyer Farhad Karim and corporate specialist Nicholas Shaw. The appointments, which take effect from 1 January, 2007, will bring the number of partners in Simpson Thacher's City arm to 12.

Eight new partners are promoted in the firm's New York headquarters, comprising four in corporate, two in litigation and one apiece in its real estate and employee benefits teams.

Meanwhile, Willkie Farr & Gallagher is making up 15 new partners, including 11 in New York and one in Frankfurt. The majority of the promotions, which are effective from the beginning of next year, are in corporate.

The two firms join fellow New York practice Cravath Swaine & Moore and West Coast duo Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in announcing their partner promotions this week.