Weil Gotshal & Manges is one of the few U.S. firms to have promoted more of its London lawyers to partner in this year's promotions round compared to last year.

Four London lawyers are being promoted as part of the expanded 16-strong global round, including private equity lawyer Lewis Blakey, finance and restructuring lawyer Clare Cottle, tax lawyer Aron Joy and private funds lawyer Marc Schubert.

Last year, the firm made up three lawyers to partner in London as part of an 11-strong round.

Across all its offices, Weil's 2019 promotions round sees nine female lawyers and seven male lawyers made up, in a round that the firm's executive partner Barry Wolf said represented its "most diverse partner class in our history so far".

The promotions come into effect on January 1, 2020, with the majority of partners being made up in New York.

Other U.S. firms to have recently announced smaller London promotions rounds include Latham & WatkinsWhite & Case and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, with the latter not making up any London lawyers this year.

Last week, Mayer Brown made up three partners in London, down from four the previous year.