Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has promoted 14 women to its partnership out of a 17-strong round.

The surge in female appointments means that women should make up a quarter of the firm's global partnership when the promotions come into effect on 1 May 2018.

Women make up more than 80% of the 2018 cohort compared to just under 30% in 2017, when six were promoted out of a 21-strong round.

It follows HSF stepping up pressure on partners to be more accountable for the diversity of its pipeline of junior lawyers. Last year, the firm missed an interim target to achieve a 25% female partnership by May 2017. It is also targeting a 30% female partnership by 2019.

The new appointments cover eight of the Anglo-Australian firm's global offices, with 10 partners based in the Asia-Pacific region and seven in the UK and US.

Six of the new partners are in the firm's City office.

The new London cohort are: finance lawyer Joy Amis; dispute resolution lawyers Nick Clayton and Jonathan Turnbull; real estate lawyer William Turnbull; employment, pensions and incentives lawyer Rachel Pinto (pictured); and corporate lawyer Laura Hulett.

HSF chief executive Mark Rigotti said:  "These excellent lawyers are selected as future leaders of our firm based on rigorous criteria. The quality of this year's new partners reflects our firm's long-term commitment to investing in lawyers of the highest calibre across the network."

He added: "It is particularly pleasing to see the diversity of this talented cohort, which is pivotal to our firm's strategy."

HSF partner promotions 2018

Joy Amis – finance, London

Amal Bouchenaki – dispute resolution, New York

Nick Clayton – dispute resolution, London

Laura Hulett – corporate, London

Rachel Pinto – employment, pensions and incentives, London

Jonathan Turnbull – dispute resolution, London

William Turnbull – real estate, London

Sarah Benbow – competition, regulation and trade, Melbourne

Joanna Caen – dispute resolution, Hong Kong

Malika Chandrasegaran – corporate, Sydney

Anna Creegan – employment, pensions and incentives, Perth

Alison Dodd – projects, Melbourne

Sian Newnham – corporate, Brisbane

Merryn Quayle – dispute resolution, Sydney

Clare Smethurst – dispute resolution, Brisbane

Nikki Smythe – finance, Sydney

Helen Tang – dispute resolution, Shanghai