Ambitious US leader makes up trio of partners in City practice

Kirkland & Ellis has added three London lawyers to its salaried partnership as part of an 80-strong global promotions round.

The City promotions, which are effective as of 1 October, are shared between two practice areas, with two lawyers made up in finance and one in capital markets.

Kirkland currently has around 100 lawyers in its London office, making up approximately 7% of the top 20 US firm's global headcount.

Kirkland London head Jim Learner (pictured) commented: "The three promotions reflect the fact that we continue to grow in London, and a number of people who have worked their way up the ranks here have now had the opportunity to be admitted."

The 80 global promotions also include 10 new salaried partners in New York and three in Hong Kong.

The firm has a separate promotions round towards the end of each calendar year, when salaried partners are made up to the firm's tightly-held equity pool. This year's equity promotions – which take effect on 1 January every year – saw 24 salaried partners make the grade, including three in the City.

This year's number of salaried partner promotions in London is down on 2010, when Kirkland made up nine to the partnership.

Many US firms have significantly cut back on London partner promotions since the credit crunch, with several – including Bingham McCutchen and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy – making up no new City partners this year.

Both K&L Gates and Latham & Watkins made just one partner promotion in the City earlier this year, while fellow US firm Dewey & LeBoeuf promoted two.