UK national law firm TLT has promoted five lawyers to partner in a women-only round. 

The promotions follow the firm introducting a target to see half of partner roles occupied by women by 2029, after it announced achieving 33% female representation at partner level two years ahead of target.

The cohort is half the size of the firm’s 2023 round, and matches the size of the 2022 group. 

Effective from 1 April this year, the promotions included three lawyers in TLT’s Manchester office: financial services disputes and investigations lawyer Roisin Bell, planning and environment lawyer Debbie Reynolds and Rachel Smith, who specialises in all aspects of property advice for financial services clients. 

Meantime head of trusts and estates Debbie Gale was welcomed in the firm’s Bristol headquarters, with the final promotions going to Glasgow-based restructuring and insolvency lawyer Ainslie Benzie. 

Sasha Butterworth, who took over as TLT’s senior partner at the start of this year, commented: “In 2023, TLT has continued to establish itself as a national law firm providing market-leading legal guidance to some of the UK’s top institutions. Ensuring we are promoting the next generation of legal talent is crucial to maintain the service for which we are known.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see a group of women lawyers promoted to partner this year which, alongside the individuals’ hard work and determination, demonstrates TLT’s commitment to supporting women’s career progression. Congratulations to all those who have been promoted this year.”  

TLT also promoted a number of lawyers to more senior positions: one was promoted to legal director, 22 senior associates to managing associates and 30 associates to senior associates across the firm’s offices in Glasgow, Belfast, London, Manchester and Bristol.  

The latest round of promotions brings the firm’s total number of partners to 164.  

They follow TLT growing revenue 9% in the 2023 financial year to £157m, following a standout performance the year before when turnover rocketed 30%. Profit per equity partner fell 27% in FY23 to £600k, which managing partner John Wood told Legal Business was a combination of investments in people and sustainability initiatives as well as general inflationary pressures.