Global law firm unveils 54 attorneys as partners in its 2022 partner class
Global Law Firm Baker McKenzie Announces Promotions
Global law firm Baker McKenzie has announced the promotion of 54 lawyers to partner and director positions, effective January 1, 2022. The promotions span 11 practice areas, with a focus on litigation and disputes, corporate, M&A and securities, banking and finance, and employment and labor, among others.
In the United States, Kimberly Cheeseman was promoted in the employment and labor practice area, based in Houston. Dimitri Millas and Rafe Schaefer were promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area, also based in Houston. Rebecca Winthrop was promoted in the bankruptcy, financial restructuring and insolvency practice area, based in Los Angeles. Eric Green was promoted in the intellectual property practice area, based in Austin, and Justin Coddington was promoted in the tax practice area, based in Houston. Nathan Baum was promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area, based in Dallas.
Across the Atlantic, James Lockwood was promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area, based in London, United Kingdom. Laura Kiwelu and Annabelle Wheeler were promoted in the projects practice area, also based in London. Geraldine Young was promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area, based in Houston, with Gerry Pecht, the Global Chief Executive of the law firm, praising the promotions and the gender diversity of the firm.
In Hong Kong, Rachel Chan was promoted in the corporate, M&A and securities practice area, and Daniel Ng was promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area. In New York, Alberta Yan and Jared Kaplan were promoted in the corporate, M&A and securities practice area, Fiona Henderson was promoted in the banking and finance practice area, and Victoria Corder was promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area.
In South Africa, lawyers receive promotions to director instead of partner. Paul Cartwright was promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area, based in Johannesburg. Kate Green and Harriet Oldmeadow were promoted in the litigation and disputes practice area in Sydney, Australia.
Baker McKenzie has set explicit gender diversity targets to reach by 2025: 40% women, 40% men, and 20% flexible (including women, men, or non-binary persons). These targets apply broadly to their workforce composition, indicating commitments for partnership, leadership roles, lawyer promotions, lateral additions, and senior business service hires to meet this balance. Other prominent global law firms, such as Kennedys, Freshfields, Clifford Chance, and DWF, also aim for around 40% gender representation at senior levels.
Promotions in various practice areas in Canada include Robin Acworth, Véronique Barry, Scott Boucher, Brian Chau, Matthew Choi, Jenna Anne de Jong, Russell Dufault, Alison FitzGerald, Caroline Jodoin, Jonathan Lafrance, Brigitte LeBlanc-Lapointe, Jennifer McPherson, Brian Milne, Fahad Siddiqui, Joshua Sprague, Nikita Stepin, Tim Stewart. Rebecca Abou-Chedid was promoted in the projects practice area, based in Washington, DC, United States. Alex Zekkos was promoted in the banking and finance practice area, based in London, United Kingdom. No promotion details were provided for Germany in the article.
Business and finance were key areas into which Baker McKenzie has expanded as they announced the promotions of 54 lawyers across various practice areas. Among those promoted were Kimberly Cheeseman in the employment and labor practice area, who focused on issues related to finance, and Fiona Henderson in the banking and finance practice area.
