Female partners at Bird & Bird were paid more than their male counterparts in 2018, according to the firm's first pay gap report to include figures for partners.

The report, based on a snapshot date of 5 April 2018, shows that the mean average found women partners were paid 20.6% more than men.

The median figures show female partners received only 0.9% more than their male equivalents.

Bird & Bird head of human resources Andrea Pankhurst said in a statement: "We are fortunate to have a partnership in London that includes a number of very experienced, senior female partners. This means when calculating our partnership pay gap, we find that gap in favour of our female partners."

When the data was collected, the firm consisted of 70 male partners and 16 female.

The firm's combined pay gap, which includes partners and employees, was heavily in favour of men. Based on the mean average, men were paid 44.9% more than women across the firm during 2018.

On average, men were paid higher bonuses than women, with the mean gap increasing from 33.5% in 2017 to 35.1% this year. The report states that the bonus gap is affected by the "high level of flexible working within the firm, which is primarily exercised by women and can lead to lower bonuses", and that part-time roles and maternity leave are a factor in this.

The report adds that 16 pro-rated bonuses were awarded to women employees, compared to four to men. It also stated that of the firm's 62 part-time employees, 60 were women.

Pankhurst added:  "While the UK's overall pay gap has decreased slightly from 2018, a significant proportion of employers have also reported an increase in their pay gaps. This is in line with market expectations that pay gaps may grow for a period while new initiatives to address the issue are launched and implemented."