DAC Beachcroft (DACB) has made up four new partners, including one who first joined the firm more than 10 years ago as a legal secretary.

Professional risks lawyer Caroline Cherry (pictured), who joined the firm as a legal secretary in 2004, went on to complete her training contract at the firm. She is based in DACB's Bristol office and will now lead the firm's professional indemnity claims handling unit.

In London, catastrophic injury lawyer Adrian Cottam has been made up alongside corporate partner Prakash Kerai, who focuses on technology deals. Elsewhere, commercial litigator Rowena McCormack has been made up in the firm's Dublin office.

DACB managing partner David Pollitt commented said: "This is recognition not only of their significant commitment and outstanding contribution to our business, but also their dedication to our clients and their huge potential for the future."

The latest promotions come in addition to the firm's annual round this May, when nine new partners were made up, including four in Leeds, two in Birmingham and one each in Newcastle, London and Bristol. Four of those new partners were women.

In October, the firm voted through changes to its membership agreement that will make partner bonuses more flexible. The changes will make it easier for DACB to better reward high-performing partners by removing a cap on how much of the firm's profits can go into its 'merit pool', paving the way for larger partner bonuses.

Commenting on the changes, senior partner Virginia Clegg said: "We have taken away the cap on the size of our merit pool, to allow more to fall into the merit pool and increase the size of potential rewards for those members who have performed extraordinarily in a particular year."