LAW.COM l Spain Falls Out of Favour in Partner Promotions Rounds
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Lexington has been quoted by Law.com in coverage examining the decline in partner promotions in Spain within international law firms.
Spain has fallen out of favour in international law firm partner promotions this year, with around half of the firms that have announced so far promoting fewer people there.
Across 11 firms that have announced their annual promotions round for 2026, six promoted no people in Spain, while no firm promoted more than two. For five of the 11 major firms, this
marked a decrease from the previous year, while only one—Linklaters—had an increase.
The numbers contrast with promotions rounds in France and Germany at the same firms, where most either increased promotions or kept them the same.
Some firms, such as Freshfields and White & Case, increased their number of partner promotions globally, with a focus on areas such as New York, London, Paris and the Middle East. But none of these promotions took place in Spain.
A&O Shearman, Eversheds Sutherland, Jones Day and Latham & Watkins also skipped Spain in their partnership additions.
Other firms made small strides in Spain—all of them in Madrid—showing that law firms still favour the capital. Addleshaw Goddard, HSF Kramer, Hogan Lovells and Linklaters all promoted one or two partners with a focus on deal-making.
The numbers reflect a broader challenge in Spain as firms grapple with less deal activity and lower fee rates.
Mari Cruz Taboada, partner at Lexington Consultants, said: “Spain is being treated more cautiously. Compared to Germany and France, deal flow is less predictable, and pricing pressure is higher, which makes firms more conservative on partner promotions.”
Meanwhile, the leading Spanish firms have also slightly tightened their promotions. The top three Spanish firms promoted slightly fewer partners this year. Cuatrecasas announced the promotionof three partners, one fewer than in 2025; Garrigues elevated 16, two fewer than last year, 13 of which were in Spain. And Uría Menéndez promoted five lawyers, three of them in Spain.
The picture is not consistent with other large European economies.
Some of the world’s biggest law firms—Freshfields, Hogan Lovells, Jones Day and Linklaters— increased their promotions across Germany. Hogan Lovells, White & Case and others increased their numbers in France.
