Denton Wilde Sapte has made up only two lawyers to partner as part of its annual promotions, and both are based in the Middle East and Central Asia region. The numbers are down from last year when the firm made up six lawyers to partner.

The firm’s new partners are energy & infrastructure lawyers Ian McGrath in Oman, and Victoria Simonova in Kazakhstan. Chief executive Howard Morris said that the location and practice area of the new partners are significant: “[They’re] both based in our international offices [which] is a reflection of the sustained levels of growth we have seen and are supporting in the Middle East and Central Asia.  It’s also no coincidence that they are both energy lawyers, as we expect this sector to grow significantly in the future,” he said.

Although new partner promotions are down this year, the firm has promoted two London lawyers to managing associates, a position created two years ago, as an alternative to partnership.

“We …recognised the artificiality of the PQE structure and wanted to create a meaningful alternative to entering the partnership,” said Morris.

Dentons now has 172 partners and seven managing associates. 

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• Denton Wilde Sapte and Patton Boggs link up on Qatar rail project (7 Dec 2009)