International firm Hogan Lovells has hailed the progress it has made so far to improve gender diversity after announcing a record number of women in its latest round of partner promotions.
The firm, co-headquartered in London, makes partner promotions every January. Chief executive Miguel Zaldivar said 58% of the 38 new partner promotions are women, ‘the highest percentage in the firm’s history, which reflects the strides we have made in the advancement of women at the firm’.
Additionally, 24% of the firm’s new partners and 27% of the 77 lawyers promoted to counsel identify as racially or ethnically diverse, or LGBTQ+, Zaldivar said.
Asked about particular measures taken by the firm that has led to a record number of women being promoted, a spokesperson told the Gazette that the firm announced its global diversity plan in 2012 and has achieved 30% women partners in the US and UK. From 2021 to 2021, women represented 49% of partners elevated.
Infrastructure to help the firm achieve its goals include making diversity, equity and inclusion a strategic priority, and sponsorship and mentoring programmes.
The spokesperson added that the firm's focus was not limited to gender and it aims to achieve 15% racially or ethnically diverse, and 4% LGBTQ+ partners by 2025.
Today’s announcement comes amid rumours that Hogan Lovells is in early-stage merger talks with Shearman & Sterling. A merger of the two firms would be one of the biggest in recent years, creating a $3.6bn (£3.43bn) practice - comfortably inside the global top five.
Hogan Lovells entered the global top 10 following the merger between US firm Hogan & Hartson and City firm Lovells in 2010.
