Travers Smith has made up four lawyers to partner in its latest promotion round, halving its promotion round from eight last year.

The firm's latest promotions, which will be effective from July 1, 2019, see the U.K. firm make up four London lawyers to partner, including one woman.

On the 2019 lineup is Alexa Day, who will become a dispute resolution partner in July. Her experience at the firm includes being part of the team working on the successful defence of claims brought by the Tchenguiz brothers against Kaupthing, Jóhannes Jóhannsson and others – a high-profile litigation case that concerned alleged professional misconduct during the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into the collapse of Kaupthing and the brothers' 2011 arrest.

Andy Lewis is set to become a pensions partner, having recently advised the Akzo Nobel (CPS) Pension Scheme on a significant sponsor negotiation.

Completing the quartet are Michael Raymond, who will become a partner in financial services and markets; and Jonathan Walters, who will become a corporate finance partner. Walters recently represented Arjun Infrastructure Partners on the acquisition of two combined heat and power plants in the UK.

The lineup is half the number the firm made up in 2018, which included three women. The slimmed promotion round bucks the trend this year of many firms announcing bumper partner promotion rounds. 

Most of the largest 20 firms have promoted more partners than they did in 2018 and several have managed all-time or 10-year highs. Macfarlanes – a close commercial rival to Travers – made up nine to partner, compared with three last year.

Travers Smith 2019 partner promotion round:

• Alexa Day – dispute resolution
• Andy Lewis – pensions
• Michael Raymond – financial services and markets
• Jonathan Walters – corporate finance