Osborne Clarke (OC) has promoted five lawyers to partner in the UK, bringing its global promotions count to nine this year.

The promotions, which marks the firm's largest UK round for three years, include four partner additions to the Bristol office and one new partner in London.

In London, financial services regulation lawyer David Blair will join the partnership. Meanwhile corporate lawyer Mark Wesker, planning lawyer Neil Bromwich, banking lawyer Tom Bussy and real estate lawyer Kate Topp have been made up in Bristol.

OC managing partner Simon Beswick (pictured) said: "Our clients demand the very best advice and service, so the process of becoming a partner at OC is deliberately challenging. Our five new partners have all come through the process with flying colours and I'm confident that they will make a huge contribution to our ongoing success."

The partner additions accompany the firm's promotions in Germany, which took effect in January. The firm made up a trio of lawyers in Cologne and one in Munich, spread across the corporate, litigation and commercial practices.

Last year the firm promoted three UK lawyers as part of an eight-strong global haul. In 2012 the firm made up six new partners, all of whom were based outside the UK.

The news comes after recent findings by Legal Week show that global promotions among the top 20 UK firms are up by 14% on last year, with 370 lawyers making the grade this year compared with 325 in 2013.

Only five firms in that group – Allen & Overy, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Eversheds, Irwin Mitchell and Linklaters – made up fewer partners globally than in the previous year.

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