A snapshot of the latest round of partnership promotions suggests a significant gender gap remains, despite statistics published by the Law Society this week confirming a rapidly feminising solicitors’ profession.

The Society’s annual statistics report shows that women accounted for more than two-thirds of the increase in the number of practising solicitors over the past decade. They are expected to outnumber their male counterparts by next year.

However, latest law firm announcements on partner promotions reinforce the Society’s findings that the number of women represented at partner level ‘remains substantial’, suggesting that women are struggling to or choosing not to climb up the career ladder.

In total, 17 of 74 new partners at magic circle firms Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May, are women.

International firm Herbert Smith Freehills has promoted 20 lawyers to the partnership; seven are women.

Among the national firms, Irwin Mitchell has announced that six of its 13 new partners are female.

Women account for five of Addleshaw Goddards’ 15 new partners, and two of the four associates promoted at TLT.

Macfarlanes’ six new partners are men.