Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has promoted 21 lawyers to its partnership around the world, including the firm's global alternative legal services head Libby Jackson.

Across Europe, the firm has made up nine lawyers in London, with two in Paris and one in Madrid.

The rest of the new partners are spread across the Asia-Pacific region, with six in Australia, and one each in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, where the firm is launching next month.

Of the 21 new partner promotions – which take effect on 1 May – six are women.

Jackson's promotion marks the first time the firm has made up a partner in the alternative legal services division, which was launched in June 2015. The firm declined to comment on whether she will be an equity or salaried partner.

Jackson (pictured), who leads a team of approximately 400 lawyers, legal assistants and technologists, joined HSF in London as a trainee in 1994. In 2011, she relocated from London to set up and lead the firm's Belfast legal services office. She is now based in London.

Last year, HSF made up 20 lawyers, including seven in London and six women.

Chief executive Mark Rigotti said: "I would like to congratulate our new partners on their promotions. They are all highly talented lawyers who represent the quality, breadth and depth of HSF around the world and demonstrate our ongoing investment in our business."

The current round of promotions comes after HSF made up five lawyers in December, as a direct response to the loss of a 10-partner team to US firm White & Case in September. This team comprised of eight Australia partners and two Asia partners, who were recruited to launch the US firm's Australia practice.

HSF partner promotions in full

UK and EMEA Greig Anderson – disputes, London Rachel Campbell – finance, Paris Paul Chases – real estate, London David Coulling – corporate, London Reza Dadbakhsh – corporate, London Javier de Carvajal – disputes, Madrid Nish Dissanayake – corporate, London Libby Jackson – alternative legal services, London Rachel Lidgate – disputes, London Nick May – finance, London Donny Surtani – disputes, London Christopher Theris – corporate, Paris

Asia-Pacific Nick Carney – projects, Sydney Hannah Cassidy – disputes, Hong Kong Glynn Cooper – corporate, Kuala Lumpur Peter Davis – corporate, Sydney Jon Evans – finance, Melbourne Tania Gray – disputes, Sydney Clayton James – corporate, Sydney Fatim Jumabhoy – employment, Singapore Miles Wadley – finance, Melbourne