Skadden ramps up London partner promotions in first round under new model

Skadden has promoted nine partners in London as part of a 55-strong global round, marking a sharp increase in City promotions in what is understood to be the first round under the firm’s new partnership model.

The New York heavyweight recently introduced a non-equity tier, joining a growing number of US elite firms updating their compensation structures to retain talent and control the size of their equity ranks.

This year’s global cohort is more than double last year’s 22, with the London intake up significantly from the firm’s typically small City rounds.

The nine new London partners are:

• Jonathan Benson - White Collar Defense and Investigations
• Zoe Q. Cooper Sutton - Finance
• Benjamin T. Davies - Corporate
• Kara L. Heggs - Tax
• Jason Hewitt - National Security
• Nicola Kerr-Shaw - National Security
• Feargal Ryan - Financial Institutions
• Kenneth J. Ryan - Capital Markets
• Cristina Tomassini - Corporate

‍A shift in approach

Skadden has historically taken a conservative approach to promotions, particularly in London. Over the past four years, the firm promoted just two partners in the City annually, with three in 2021 and only one in 2020.

The expanded round comes as top US firms increasingly adopt non-equity tiers - a model designed to improve retention and create more flexibility in partnership structures. Freshfields recently followed suit, introducing its own non-equity tier in response to the shift.

Skadden’s London office has also traditionally been selective on lateral hiring, although it made a notable move earlier this year with the hire of disputes partners Sophie Lamb KC and Samuel Pape from Latham.

Skadden was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.