Sapna Jhangiani, Clyde & Co

Five partners from firms including Clyde & Co, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Herbert Smith Freehills are among 114 new QCs appointed in this year's silk round.

Private practice partners who made the grade include two Freshfields partners: solicitor Nigel Blackaby and barrister Noah Rubins and Clyde & Co partner Sapna Jhangiani. Jhangiani is the only female solicitor advocate to have made silk in this year's round and has been a partner at Clydes for six years, based in its Singapore office.

Blackaby, who is currently global co-head of international arbitration at Freshfields, has been at the Magic Circle firm for 29 years and is based in Washington, D.C., according to his LinkedIn profile. He is also co-head of Freshfields Latin America group. Fellow Freshfields partner Rubins has been at Freshfields for over 16 years, and made partner ten years ago. He currently heads the firm's international arbitration practice in Paris, as well as its global CIS/Russia dispute resolution practice group.

They are joined in the round by Clifford Chance partner and global co-head of CC's international arbitration group Jason Fry; HSF partner and head of the firm's greater China disputes practice Simon Chapman and White & Case international arbitration partner Andrew de Lotbinière McDougall, who made partner in 2004.

Paula Hodges QC, global head of international arbitration at HSF said in a statement: "Simon is an extremely talented advocate, and we are very proud of this richly deserved appointment. It reflects Simon's legal excellence and demonstrates the high esteem in which he is held by his peers, colleagues and clients."

Chambers represented in this year's round include Fountain Court, Old Square and Quadrant. Fountain Court saw the most QCs appointed, with six new silks in its ranks.

Meanwhile, four of Old Square Chambers and three of Quadrant Chambers' barristers became silks.

Other notable individuals in this year's intake include Harish Salve SA, an Indian senior advocate who served as the Solicitor General of India from 1 November 1999 to 3 November 2002. Salve joined Blackstone Chambers in 2013.

This year's round includes a record number of ethnic minority appointments, according to a statement by the Queen's Counsel application board. 22 applicants who declared an ethnic origin other than white of the 42 who applied were successful, compared to last year when 13 such applicants out of 42 were appointed.

30 women applicants out of 52 were successful in being appointed silk, compared to 30 successful applicants out of 55 female applicants last year.

Sir Alex Allan, chair of the selection panel, said in a statement: "We remain concerned that the number of female applicants remains comparatively low, but I am pleased that of those women who did apply, almost 60% were successful. I was also pleased to note that a record number of 22 BAME applicants were appointed."

Last year, four private practice partners made the grade, including Allen & Overy's global co-chair of A&O's international arbitration group, Mark Levy.