Slaughter and May has promoted just one of its lawyers to partner in its 2019 round.

London-based finance lawyer Harry Bacon, who joined the firm as a trainee a decade ago, is the sole City partner to be made up this year.

Meanwhile, former Slaughters M&A lawyer Jing Chen has rejoined the firm after a stint at the Listing Division of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. He spent a year-long secondment there before joining permanently in 2017. Chen will rejoin the firm next month as a partner.

Slaughters senior partner Steve Cooke said: "I am delighted to welcome Harry and Jing as partners. Harry is a highly skilled lawyer in our financing group and will make a major contribution to the growth of our worldwide practice.

"We are also very pleased that Jing is returning to the firm and know that he will play an important role in building on our long-established Asian presence."

The number of promotions at the magic circle firm has dropped during the past few years, with 10 made up in 2016, seven in 2017 and four in 2018.

Meanwhile, U.K. firm HFW has made up nine new partners and three new legal directors in its latest promotion round, including six in London.

The six new London partners form the largest-ever promotions round in the City for the firm.

Two new partners have also been made up in Paris, and one in Singapore.

The latest promotions cap a busy start to 2019 for HFW, with the election of new managing partner Shebson and the re-election of senior partner Richard Crump, as well as the expansion of the firm's China, Australia and Middle East presence.

HFW 2018 partner promotions in full

Terence Liew – aerospace (Singapore)

Vincent Benezech – commodities (Paris)

Richard Booth – construction (London)

Vanessa Tattersall – energy and resources (London)

Iris Vogeding – insurance and reinsurance (Paris)

Christopher Garley – shipping (London)

Alessio Sbraga – shipping (London)

Gudmund Bernitz – ship finance (London)

William MacLachlan – ship finance (London)