Research shows stagnation in number of female partners working at large firms

PARTNERSHIP: Many women choose not to sacrifice family life for promotion at work

The largest law firms are making little headway in improving their numbers of women partners, Gazette research has revealed.In fact, figures show that the number of female partners in the top ten firms has dropped from 15% last year to 14% this year.

In 1995, it was 11%.The research, based on the newly published Law Society's Directory of Solicitors and Barristers, shows that 17% of partners in the 100 biggest firms in England and Wales are women, the same figure as last year.There has been a minor improvement at the top 50 firms, where the figure is 16% (up 1% on last year), compared with 21% for the next 50, the same figure as last year.More than a third of all practising solicitors are women (36%), but less than a quarter of them are partners.

This is in part down to the fact that 69% of women lawyers are up to nine years qualified, compared to 37% of male lawyers.As last year, Manchester firm Pannone & Partners has the largest percentage of women partners (39%).

The others with 30% or more are Withers (37%), Trowers & Hamlins, Olswang, and Taylor Vinters (all 33%), and Shoosmiths, Thompsons and DJ Freeman (all 30%).

Eversheds and DLA (both 18%) had the most among the top ten.Again, as last year, Ashurst Morris Crisp had the lowest number of any of the top 20 firms (8%).

Others under 10% are: Stephenson Harwood, Holman Fenwick & Willan, Ince & Co, Dechert (all 8%), and Wedlake Bell (9%).

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (11%) featured worst among the top ten.Ashursts senior partner Geoffrey Green said that since the directory was compiled, the firm has recruited several female partners, taking its figure up to 14%.

He stressed that this was not the result of positive discrimination, and was merely a happy coincidence that a number of lateral hires have been women.Flexible working practices are usually touted as one answer to the problem.

Anthea Grainger, chairwoman of the Association of Women Solicitors, said the shortage of solicitors in some fields means many firms are having to introduce more amenable working patterns on the insistence of new recruits.

However, Ms Grainger said that four-day-week partners are not popular in the City, and firms are still reluctant to promote part-timers.An additional factor which is fast emerging is that women lawyers are deciding that partnership is not their ultimate goal.

Ms Grainger said many women solicitors are reluctant to sacrifice family life to put in the long hours required for partnership, and are a 'great deal more sceptical about the benefits of becoming a partner than their male colleagues'.Lesley Macdonagh of Lovells, the only female managing partner of a top ten firm, also attributed the lack of female peers to a lifestyle choice.

She maintained that rather than being blocked by prejudice, many women with family commitments had 'no inclination to get involved with partnership'.Clara Goldsmith