Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has made up its first female partner in London, after more than a decade in the City.  

Nicola Chesaites is one of two litigators promoted to partner in London, alongside Aidan O'Rourke. The promotions mark the first time the US firm has made more than one London partner promotion in any given year.

A former pupil barrister at 20 Essex Street Chambers, Chesaites (pictured) previously spent four years at Covington & Burling, and, following a stint at the General Court of the European Union, joined Quinn as of counsel in 2015.

Her work with Quinn has seen her defend German automotive giant Daimler in the Europe-wide trucks litigation, and act for former Financial Ombudsman Service chief Walter Merricks in a proposed £14bn collective action against Mastercard.

O'Rourke first practised as a solicitor with New Zealand outfit Russell McVeagh, joining Quinn's London office in 2012. He is experienced in pensions, banking, financial services, entertainment and IP and patent law. Among other high-profile cases, he has acted for Koch Industries-owned chemical materials company Invista Textiles.

Quinn Emanuel London co-managing partner Richard East said: "This is in fact the first time we have enjoyed two partner promotions in one year and represents a resounding endorsement by the firm of our continued success in London. So far in 10 years we have now made up six partners."

The bulk of the firm's partner promotions were made across its US bases, as well as a sole new partner made up in its Hong Kong base and one in Munich.

All of the appointments across the firm will take effect from 1 January 2019.

Quinn Emanuel 2018 appointments in full:

  • Nicola Chesaites – litigation (London)
  • Aidan O'Rourke – litigation (London)
  • Jonathan Cooper – litigation (Washington DC)
  • Meghan McCaffrey – litigation (Washington DC)
  • Jared Newton – litigation (Washington DC)
  • Jerome Kommer – litigation (Munich)
  • Silpa Maruri – litigation (New York)
  • Marlo Pecora – litigation (New York)
  • Renita Sharma – litigation (New York)
  • Patrick Schmidt – litigation (Los Angeles)
  • Viola Trebicka – litigation (Los Angeles)
  • Sam Stake – litigation (San Francisco)
  • Brianne Straka – Litigation (Chicago )
  • Harold Noh – arbitration (Hong Kong)