City firm Baker McKenzie has announced its smallest partner promotion round in over five years, after a series of bumper cohorts.

Just 67 partners have been elected globally, compared with 84 last year and 81 in 2019. The number of lateral hires is also significantly down at 28, compared with 68 in 2020. Eight of the new partners work at the firm’s London office – one of whom became the youngest deputy master ever appointed to the High Court last year, aged 32.

There are now 131 partners based in Baker McKenzie’s new London premises near St Paul’s Cathedral.

Alex Chadwick, London managing partner, said: ‘During a challenging year, working remotely throughout the pandemic, every one of our new partners has proved to be extremely talented, adept and dedicated to our clients. It is a great pleasure to be able to recognise these individuals for the significant contributions they have made and will continue to make to the firm. Their success is a clear sign of the importance we place in the long-term growth strategy of the London office.’

Global chair Milton Cheng added that Baker McKenzie has an ‘unwavering commitment to being a truly global firm’.