Slaughter and May has become the second magic circle firm to announce its partnership promotions – making up half as many new partners as last year.

The firm has promoted two lawyers to its partnership, down from four in 2008 and five in 2007.

David Ives (pictured left) and Michael Lane (pictured below right) will both join the firm's tightly-guarded partnership on 1 May, respectively bolstering numbers in the firm's outsourcing, intellectual property and technology and tax practices.