Top of the firm at 33

PARTNERSHIP: Harbottle & Lewis moves 33-year-old to top job

The City's youngest-ever female managing partner has taken over the reins at 18-partner media and entertainment firm Harbottle & Lewis.

At 33, Samantha Phillips beats her predecessor to the title - Julie Bradley of 16-partner City firm Devonshires - by five years.

Ms Phillips said she has never viewed her age or sex as an obstacle in her career.

She said the firm's lack of 'ageist' or 'timeist' requirements when recruiting people or making them up to partners had also helped.

A commercial litigator, Ms Phillips joined Harbottle Lewis in 1996 after five years with Titmuss Sainer Webb, now Dechert.

She became a partner at Harbottles last year.

The appointment comes as part of a management reshuffle at the firm.

Colin Howes, who was managing partner for seven years, steps down to concentrate on fee-earning work.

E-commerce partner Mark Phillips, aviation partner Dermot Scully and IP partner Mark Owen have joined the management team.

Bob Storer continues as senior partner.

Ms Phillips said she has no plans for any major upheavals at the firm.

She intends to focus on its core areas of media, entertainment, leisure and aviation and 'drive-forward' areas of growth, such as the firm's multi-media practice.

She added that the firm has no plans to merge but will continue to 'grow organically'.Lovells, Denton Wilde Sapte and Nabarro Nathanson are the largest firms to have female managing partners.

Diana Parker at Withers is the only female senior partner of a major firm.

Sue Allen