RPC Elevates 10 to Partner in One of Its Largest Promotion Rounds on Record

Why It Matters

The surge in partner promotions underscores RPC’s aggressive growth in high‑value risk sectors, while the gender imbalance highlights ongoing challenges in law‑firm diversity. The lateral hires signal the firm’s intent to deepen its insurance, cyber and international capabilities, positioning it competitively in a crowded market.

Key Takeaways

• RPC promoted 10 partners, the largest round since 2022
• Women comprised 20% of new partners, down from previous years
• Professional and financial risks practice received most promotions
• New hires include insurance specialist Tom Mungovan from DWF
• Lateral hires in Singapore and London expand RPC’s global footprint

Pulse Analysis

RPC’s 2026 promotion cycle marks a strategic inflection point for the firm, as it adds ten new partners – the most in recent memory – across its core risk‑focused practices. The professional and financial risks group alone generated half of the partner elevations, reflecting client demand for sophisticated advisory services in insurance, financial services and construction disputes. By concentrating talent in these high‑margin sectors, RPC aims to capture larger mandates and reinforce its reputation as a go‑to counsel for complex, contentious matters.

The gender composition of the new partners draws attention to a broader industry conversation about equity in senior legal roles. While women now make up roughly a third of RPC’s partnership, their representation fell to two out of ten in this round, a notable dip after years of parity. RPC’s managing partner Antony Sassi acknowledged the gap and reiterated a commitment to balanced promotion pathways, echoing the legal market’s increasing emphasis on diversity, client expectations for inclusive representation, and the talent‑retention benefits of equitable leadership.

Beyond internal promotions, RPC is reshaping its market footprint through targeted lateral hires. The addition of Tom Mungovan, a seasoned financial‑lines and D&O specialist from DWF, bolsters the firm’s insurance and reinsurance platform at a time of heightened demand for risk‑management expertise. Parallel hires in Singapore, London and the data‑and‑cyber space expand RPC’s geographic and practice‑area coverage, positioning the firm to service multinational clients across emerging risk domains. These moves collectively signal RPC’s ambition to grow its global brand, diversify its service portfolio, and compete more aggressively with other top-tier UK and international firms.