City firm shows commitment to know-how with four promotions

Norton Rose has promoted four of its know-how lawyers to of counsel, in a move to broaden the career track for support lawyers.

The promotions, which came into effect last week (1 November) mark the first time the City firm has promoted practice support lawyers (PSLs) to the of counsel rank.

The decision to expand the counsel rank to cover non-fee earners comes as Norton Rose also hunts for its first-ever global director of knowledge management, with both moves sparked by a review launched by the firm in a bid to strengthen its global know-how system.

Three of the new promotions are in London, where corporate finance lawyers Simon Lovegrove and Kate Tomlinson (pictured) and banking lawyer Anne MacPherson make the grade, with Paris banking specialist Tara Pichardo-Angadi also promoted.

Norton Rose said the promotions show the firm's commitment to provide clear and rewarding career paths for support lawyers as well as fee earners.

Norton Rose global director of talent and development Andrew McEachern said: "This is about ensuring that all parts of the organisation feel there is a clear career path. The newly-promoted lawyers all make a significant contribution to the firm and the message we want to give is that it is possible to make a career in knowledge management as well."

The promotions came outside Norton Rose's traditional May of counsel promotion round, which saw 18 fee earners made up to counsel and five to special counsel earlier this year. In the future the firm expects to promote eligible support lawyer candidates within the main fee earner of counsel promotions round.