Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has chosen to focus largely on its London office in its 17-strong partner promotions round.

Fourteen of the new partners are based in London, with two in Moscow and one in Singapore.

Six partners were promoted in real estate, four in litigation and corporate risk, three in corporate, and two each in finance and tax.

Last year, BLP promoted five partners, down from eight the previous year. Three were made up in London, while Singapore and Germany saw one partner promoted each.

In 2015, corporate dominated the round with two new partners while finance, litigation and dispute resolution gained one each.

The appointments will take effect from 1 May 2016.

BLP managing partner Lisa Mayhew said: "Our new partners have demonstrated exemplary client development skills and the ability to grow their practices and we hope that they will now take an increasingly active role in the development of our firm and become our future leaders."

News of the promotions comes as the firm continues to engage in merger talks with US firm Greenberg Traurig. The potential merger deal, first announced in February, would create a 1,500 lawyer firm.

It also emerged earlier this week that BLP is in the process of shifting its City lawyers and staff based in St Magnus House to its nearby headquarters at Adelaide House.

BLP is the second UK firm to announce its partner promotions this week after Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer kicked off the season earlier this week. The magic circle firm announced the promotion of 16 lawyers across London, continental Europe, the US and the Middle East.

BLP's partner promotions in full

Corporate
Gareth Jones (London)
Anton Panchenkov (Moscow)
Kieran Saunders (London)

Finance
Peter Knust (London)
Simons Spells (Singapore)

Litigation
James Clarke (London)
Polly James (London)
Andrew Tuson (London)
Ivan Veselov (Moscow)

Real Estate
Adriano Amorese (London)
Sarah Fitzpatrick (London)
Liana Hewson (London)
Ruth Miller (London)
Matthew Peel (London)
Laura Wild (London)

Tax
Matthew Poole (London)
Paul Shaw (London)

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