Baker McKenzie elevates 89 to Partnership; hires 42 new Partners
Baker McKenzie elevates 89 to Partnership; hires 42 new Partners
The firm now has 131 partners globally, representing a 12 percent increase from the previous year
Global law firm Baker McKenzie has made a significant move by promoting 89 lawyers to partnership positions and adding 42 new partners.
The firm has also achieved a milestone in gender diversity, with 46 percent of promotions going to women this year, compared to 37 percent during the last financial year.
The newly-promoted Partners span 41 locations, strengthening Baker McKenzie’s ability to provide top-tier legal services to clients across various industries.
Additionally, the firm has added 42 new lateral Partners having experience and specialization in key practice areas. This will enhance the firm’s capabilities in sectors including M&A, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Dispute Resolution, IP & Technology, and Tax.
Commenting on the appointments, Milton Cheng, the Global Chair of Baker McKenzie, said, “Congratulations to each of our newly promoted partners, and welcome to the new laterals joining the Baker McKenzie family. The appointments recognize the huge and ongoing contributions our new partners have made to our firm and our commitment to building a consistently high-performing, global team of talented lawyers delivering best-in-class legal services.”
He added, “We recognize the often unprecedented challenges that our clients face – we face them too. The broad geographical, practice and cultural mix of our new partners ensures we bring diverse perspectives combined with deep local insights and legal expertise to help our clients make informed decisions in uncertain times. We will continue building on our unique strengths and grow our capabilities in key strategic areas that will benefit our clients.”
The newly promoted Partners in the MENA region include Keri Watkins, Stephanie Samuell, and Marcos Spanos.
Based in Dubai, Watkins has been appointed as Partner and co-head of the Real Estate and Hospitality practice. Since 2007, he has experience in advising local and multinational businesses, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and public institutions in the Middle East.
Samuell, a Partner in the Corporate Practice group, has over 11 years of experience in the Middle East. Her expertise lies in handling M&A, joint ventures, private equity, and venture capital transactions in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. Across industries, she advises clients on operational and structuring matters
Another Dubai-based partner, Spanos has joined the Corporate Practice Group and specializes in M&A, private equity, and joint ventures. With qualifications in England & Wales and experience in London and the GCC, Spanos has advised financial institutions, conglomerates, private equity firms, and funds on cross-border transactions. These include consumer goods & retail, technology, healthcare, and energy, and infrastructure.
