Linklaters has become the first magic circle firm to adopt gender diversity targets and is aiming for 30% female membership of its executive committee and international board by 2018.

The ambitious target would represent a doubling of female representation on the board, which currently stands at 15%. The firm has also set a target for partner promotions, with the intention of having women make up 30% of new partners effective from next year's round.

The set of goals was announced at April's annual partner conference in Barcelona, making Linklaters the latest top City firm to put in place diversity targets.

Senior partner Robert Elliott said: "This move re-affirms Linklaters' commitment to female progression, setting a visible and aspirational goal for greater female representation on the firm's main executive body, its principal governance body and the partnership at large."

The firm already has several diversity initiatives in place, including the the Linklaters' Women's Leadership Programme, which produced three of the firm's nine female partner promotions this year.

Linklaters also runs a series of seminars and tailored training to those in leadership roles to ensure merit based decisions are made about progression.

"We believe that the firm's many diversity initiatives, some of which have been in place for several years now, are making real differences in helping us attract, retain and develop some of the finest women lawyers in the profession," said Elliot. "Our aspirational targets are a further indication of our commitment to these initiatives."

In recent months, diversity targets have been announced Ashurst, which is aiming to fill a quarter of management positions with women, Pinsent Masons, which has set a goal of 25% female partners by May 2018, and Herbert Smith Freehills, which announced a 30% target for female partners in March.

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