Law firm Hill Dickinson has promoted a record number of associate lawyers to senior associate positions in its latest promotions round, including David Baines in Leeds.
Hill Dickinson said the move reflects a period of intense work and commitment throughout the pandemic and the success of the firm’s people-first strategy, combining lateral recruitment at the most senior levels with clear and achievable promotion paths for everyone from within.
A total of 28 lawyers across all three of the firm’s core business groups become senior associates with effect from 1 November 2021—more than in any other year since the current system of announcing promotions each November began.
In Leeds, Baines (pictured) is a senior associate in the firm’s healthcare commercial team. His experience includes IT outsourcing and technology contracts, data protection advice, and intellectual property matters.
In addition, Sean Lightfoot, of the firm’s Manchester corporate team, has been promoted to legal director.
Congratulating them on their achievement, Hill Dickinson chief executive Peter Jackson said: “I am delighted to see so many of our people successfully advancing their legal careers with Hill Dickinson. It feels particularly rewarding to make this number of promotions to senior associate in a single round, reflecting our ongoing commitment to growing our people. This is a very proud moment not only for them but for us as a firm.”
He added: “Of this year’s senior associate promotions, 17 are women—over 60%. Our challenge now is to maintain the ratio of women progressing upward through the ranks so that, in time, we also achieve greater balance at our most senior levels. As a law firm, we are putting huge effort into achieving that vision and our flexible and agile working policies play a big part in that.”
