- Europe
- Promotions
- London, New York
Proskauer promoted five London lawyers to its partnership effective 1 November, part of a 21-strong firmwide round that gave London its second-highest tally after the firm's New York headquarters for the second year running, Legal Business reported.
The five, Charlotte Boylin, Dave Hill, Rachel Lowe, James May and Nick Wardle, are all in the Corporate department. Firmwide, the class comprised 14 corporate, three tax, two litigation and two labour and employment lawyers (Proskauer). London's total matched last year's five, against 22 globally.
Chair Tim Mungovan said the class "represents the future of our Firm and the opportunities ahead," bringing "an entrepreneurial approach and an innovative mindset" (Proskauer).
Nine London laterals and a 45% revenue rise alongside the corporate promotions
The five corporate promotions follow a year of lateral hiring in the same department. Europe head Steven Davis said nine lateral partners joined the London office in the 12 months to October 2025. He said the hires "reinforce the Firm's commitment to London as a critical market" (Proskauer).
The arrivals focused on private equity and finance: PE M&A partner Martin Graham from Oaktree Capital Management in October 2025 (Proskauer), M&A partner Sylvain Dhennin in March 2025 (Proskauer), private funds partner Duncan Woollard in April and finance partner Peter Mason in August (Proskauer), and restructuring partner Andrew Payne and global finance partner Sean Darling in November 2025 (Proskauer).
The hiring came as London revenue rose. Proskauer's London revenue rose 45% year on year to $226.8m, up 77% over two years. Firmwide revenue grew nearly 14% to $1.58bn, and profit per equity partner reached a record $5m (Legal Business).
All five London promotions were in Corporate, while the laterals joined PE, private funds, finance and restructuring. The pattern suggests the office is promoting in the same practices it has been recruiting into.
Kirkland, Latham and Goodwin lead a near-doubling of London PE partner hiring
London private equity partner hires almost doubled in 2025, the most active year for PE partner movement in the City on record (Global Legal Post). There were 21 PE partner moves in the first half alone (City AM).
US firms took most of the gains. From 2020 to the first quarter of 2025, 80% of partner arrivals in London went to leading US firms, compared with 56% of exits. Kirkland, Latham and Goodwin led the PE-driven push (Law.com). Demand continued through softer early-2026 deal activity, with hiring shifting toward private equity real estate and infrastructure. Hiring in those areas rose from one partner in 2021 to 15 in 2025 (Law.com). US lateral partner hiring across the City reached a five-year high (Global Legal Post).
Weil, Clifford Chance and Ropes & Gray promote into the same London practices
Proskauer's round came alongside similar classes at rival US and magic circle firms. Weil promoted 17 lawyers to partner, including four in London across private equity and M&A, banking and finance and tax (Nonbillable). Clifford Chance named 28 partners globally, including nine in London across real estate, funds, employment, PE, restructuring, disputes and corporate (Nonbillable). Ropes & Gray made up 26, with London "making a comeback" (Nonbillable). Skadden promoted nine in London in its first round under a new non-equity partnership model (Nonbillable).
Across these rounds, London's promotions are concentrated in private equity, M&A and finance, the practices that have attracted the most lateral movement in the City. Proskauer's five corporate partners came in the same year that nine laterals joined and London revenue rose 45%.
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