The Brief:
Gilbert + Tobin has the smallest senior associate bench, but is growing it the fastest.
Meanwhile, Mallesons and MinterEllison are the only two firms with shrinking senior associate ranks.
New data show which top-tier firms are stacking up on senior associates, and which firms are falling behind.
Senior Associate Promotions
We looked at the 2026 senior associate promotion rounds across Australia’s top-tier firms.
Gilbert + Tobin takes the top spot. It has the smallest senior associate pool on the list at 181, but promoted 43 lawyers, meaning promotions make up close to a quarter of its total senior associate ranks. It’s also the biggest riser, up 18 promotions from 2025.
Meanwhile, Allens is chasing volume. Its 65 promotions are the largest single round on the list by a wide margin, and it’s also a record promotion round for the firm.
Corrs Chambers Westgarth posted the biggest fall on the list, down 19 promotions to 47. But that’s coming off an unusually large promotion round in 2025, when Corrs promoted 66 senior associates, more than any other firm on the list that year.
Mallesons and Clayton Utz weren’t far behind Corrs on the way down, both dropping 15 promotions.
Law Firm | Total SAs in 2026 | 2026 Promos | % of SAs | 2025 Promos | 25-26 Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HSF Kramer | 339 | 53 | 15.63% | 52 | +1 |
MinterEllison | 339 | 44 | 12.98% | 52 | -8 |
Allens | 296 | 65 | 21.96% | 55 | +10 |
Mallesons | 295 | 45 | 15.25% | 60 | -15 |
Clayton Utz | 265 | 42 | 15.85% | 57 | -15 |
Ashurst Perkins Coie | 261 | 44 | 16.86% | 44 | 0 |
Corrs Chambers Westgarth | 257 | 47 | 18.29% | 66 | -19 |
Gilbert + Tobin | 181 | 43 | 23.76% | 25 | +18 |
Source: Law Firm Promotion Announcements / Firm-Supplied Data
Senior Associate Growth
The 12-month growth figures add another layer, and they don't always line up with the promotion numbers.
Gilbert + Tobin tops both tables, up +18.3% on the back, up 50 new senior associates from last year. Corrs Chambers Westgarth is close behind at +14.7%.
Mallesons and MinterEllison are the only two firms shrinking. Mallesons is down -2.6%, MinterEllison down -3.7%, despite both firms sitting among the largest senior associate pools in the market.
Law Firm | Total SAs | 12-Month Growth |
|---|---|---|
Gilbert + Tobin | 181 | +18.3% |
Corrs Chambers Westgarth | 257 | +14.7% |
Allens | 296 | +11.3% |
Ashurst Perkins Coie | 261 | +5.7% |
HSF Kramer | 339 | +4.0% |
Clayton Utz | 265 | +3.1% |
Mallesons | 295 | -2.6% |
MinterEllison | 339 | -3.7% |
Source: Australian Financial Review