Ashurst has promoted 18 lawyers to partner globally, with London promotions dropping from 12 last year to just five.
The round comes after partners approved the firm’s merger with Perkins Coie, with the combination set to complete later this year.
Ashurst has promoted 18 lawyers to partner globally, trimming its intake slightly as it prepares for a transatlantic merger with US firm Perkins Coie.
The latest round is down from 20 promotions last year and comes at a defining moment for the firm, with partners at both Ashurst and Perkins Coie approving the combination last week ahead of an expected completion in the third quarter of 2026.
Across the firm, the 18-strong cohort spans 11 practice areas and nine offices, split evenly between EMEA/US and Asia-Pacific. Women make up half of the new partners, in line with Ashurst’s recent averages.
London slowdown
Just five lawyers have been made up in the City this year, compared to 12 in 2025.
The new London partners:
- Max Strasberg - Dispute Resolution
- Sophie Suri - Tax
- Kate Davies - Global Loans
- Nicholas Jupp - Global Loans
- Darren Phelan - Global Loans
Merger backdrop
This year’s promotions land just a week after partners backed the firm’s long-awaited US merger with Perkins Coie, a deal that will create a new transatlantic player under the name Ashurst Perkins Coie with revenue around the $2.8 billion mark.
Leadership has positioned the promotions as aligned with that strategy. Global CEO Paul Jenkins said the appointments reflect the firm’s priorities “as we move toward our exciting combination with Perkins Coie”, while chair Karen Davies said the firm remains “deeply committed” to investing in the next generation of leaders.
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