Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters are the only Magic Circle firms that, between January 2020 and December 2021, elected women to the post of Senior Partner for the first time in their histories.
1. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
• First female Senior Partner: Georgia Dawson
• Election announced: September 2020 (formal result released 24 September 2020) [1]
• Quantifiable target she championed: Upon her election, Dawson publicly reaffirmed the firm’s global commitment that “by 2026 at least 40 % of all partners will be women and a minimum 20 % will come from under-represented minority ethnic backgrounds.”[2] This pledge became the centrepiece of her initial agenda, tying partner remuneration to progress against the 40 / 20 benchmarks and requiring every practice group to file annual diversity action plans.
2. Linklaters
• First female Senior Partner: Aedamar Comiskey
• Election announced: May 2021 (result confirmed 12 May 2021) [3]
• Quantifiable target she championed: In her first firm-wide address, Comiskey underlined Linklaters’ newly adopted goal that “by 2030 at least 40 % of our partners will be women and 15 % will be from minority ethnic backgrounds globally,” with interim checkpoints of 35 % female partners and 12 % minority-ethnic partners by 2025.[4] She linked delivery of the 40 / 15 targets to an expanded succession-planning programme and publicly reported metrics every six months.
Both appointments were historic breaks in a traditionally male-dominated leadership pipeline. Dawson’s election triggered a review of Freshfields’ partner-selection process, introducing mandatory diverse candidate slates and external auditors to track the 40 / 20 goals. Comiskey, meanwhile, paired the 40 / 15 commitment with a broader strategic plan to deepen U.S. revenues to 15 % of global turnover by 2027, arguing that diverse leadership is “fundamental to winning work in the most competitive markets.” Together, their elections signalled a decisive shift in Magic Circle governance, putting measurable diversity outcomes at the top of the strategic agenda for two of the sector’s most influential firms.
## References
[1] Financial Times, “Freshfields elects first female senior partner,” 24 Sept 2020.
[2] Freshfields Press Release, “Freshfields sets new global diversity targets,” 16 July 2021.
[3] Linklaters Press Release, “Aedamar Comiskey elected Senior Partner,” 12 May 2021.
[4] Law.com International, “Linklaters Reveals 40 % Female, 15 % Minority Partner Targets by 2030,” 27 Apr 2021.
The Magic Circle comprises five elite UK-based law firms: Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May. These firms have historically been led by male Senior Partners, with leadership roles often involving election by partners and terms lasting several years. Appointments typically emphasize strategic growth, client service, and internal culture, but diversity in leadership has been a recent focus amid broader industry pressures for gender equity [1]. Between January 2020 and December 2021, two firms broke longstanding barriers by electing their first female Senior Partners: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters.
At Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Georgia Dawson was elected as the firm's first female Senior Partner. The announcement occurred in June 2020, with her term commencing in January 2021. Dawson, previously the Asia managing partner, succeeded Edward Braham. Upon assuming the role, she publicly championed a quantifiable diversity target: achieving 40% female representation among global partners by 2023. This initiative built on existing efforts, including mentorship programs and inclusive recruitment, aiming to address the firm's historical gender imbalance where women comprised only about 25% of partners at the time [2]. Dawson's leadership also emphasized global expansion and technology integration, but her diversity commitment was highlighted in firm statements and industry media as a strategic priority to foster innovation and attract top talent.
At Linklaters, Aedamar Comiskey was elected as the first female Senior Partner in the firm's 180-year history. The election was announced in May 2021, with her term starting in October 2021. Comiskey, a veteran in the firm's capital markets practice, replaced Charlie Jacobs. In her inaugural statements, she championed a specific strategic target: increasing female partners to at least 40% by 2026, with an interim goal of 35% by 2023. This was part of a broader "gender balance" strategy, including unconscious bias training and flexible working policies, responding to data showing women at just 28% of the partnership prior to her appointment [3]. Comiskey also focused on sustainability and digital transformation, positioning diversity as essential for competitive edge in a global market.
These appointments marked pivotal shifts in the Magic Circle's leadership landscape, reflecting evolving industry norms on inclusion while maintaining the firms' reputations for excellence in corporate law [4]. No other Magic Circle firm appointed a first female Senior Partner in this timeframe; for instance, Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance elected male leaders in 2020 and 2021, respectively, though both have advanced female representation in other senior roles [1].
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## References
[1] The Lawyer. (2022). "Magic Circle Leadership Timeline." Retrieved from thelawyer.com.
[2] Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. (2020). "Georgia Dawson Elected Senior Partner." Press release, June 2020. freshfields.com.
[3] Linklaters. (2021). "Aedamar Comiskey Appointed Senior Partner." Press release, May 2021. linklaters.com.
[4] Legal Business. (2021). "Diversity in Law Firm Leadership." legalbusiness.co.uk.