Top City law firms have upped their partner promotions this year, in what appears to be a good round for City lawyers.

As the Gazette went to press, only two City firms outside the magic circle, Norton Rose and Denton Wilde Sapte, and two within it, Allen & Overy and Linklaters, had announced that fewer lawyers would be made up this year.

Promotions at Norton Rose were down from 12 to 11; promotions at Denton Wilde Sapte fell from six to two; Allen & Overy promoted 18, down from 20 last year; and Linklaters promoted 14, down from 18 last year.

David McIntosh, chair of the City of London Law Society, said that the overall increase reflects City firms’ success in reorganising themselves during the economic downturn.

Promotions within the magic circle rose slightly overall. Clifford Chance promoted 22, up from 17 last year; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer promoted 18, up from 14 last year; and Slaughter and May promoted two, the same as last year.

In the City, firms which promoted more partners than last year included Lovells, Herbert Smith, Ashurst, Bird & Bird, and Field Fisher Waterhouse.