Taylor Wessing has promoted Elinor Picton (1) to partner in its London corporate team. She trained as a lawyer with the firm, and has been with Taylor Wessing for 12 years. She is in the technology and life sciences team. In the US, in San Francisco, Sarah Cole (2) has been promoted to partner. She is also in the technology and life sciences team. In Germany, Dr Amir-Said Ghassabeh (3) and Xiaowen Paulus-Ye (4) have been promoted to corporate partner.

David Irvine (1) has joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in London as partner in its global finance practice, and co-chair of global finance (Europe). He has joined from Linklaters, where he was partner and specialised in advising financial sponsors and credit funds. Prior to that he worked for Kirkland & Ellis in Hong Kong, and before that he spent 14 years with Linklaters.

And Mark Leverkus (2) has joined the global finance group as of counsel from Milbank, where he spent 10 years. Prior to that he trained as a solicitor with Dentons. He has also joined the firm’s transportation and space practice group.

Herbert Smith Freehills has promoted Chris Davis (1) and Dominic Rowe (2) to of counsel in its London corporate team. Davis specialises in power and infrastructure and has been with the law firm 11 years. Originally from New Zealand, Rowe specialises in the TMT sector and joined the firm in 2020. He previously spent 13 years with Russell McVeagh.