HSF promotes 23 to partner in latest round 22 April 2021 First partners announced in Italy and South Africa in promotions round dominated by disputes lawyers Milan Shutterstock Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has announced a 23-strong list of partner promotions, three short of its partnership round last year that was the firm’s largest ever. Promotions between the firm’s regions were broadly equal. London and Australian promotions decreased to six apiece from 2020’s eight, while Asia saw an increase to five partners. Europe, also with five partners elevated, saw the firm’s first promotion in the Milan office, that of IP and commercial disputes litigator Pietro Pouché. Patrick Leydin, a corporate lawyer in South Africa, marked the Johannesburg office’s first promotion.