Meet the future female leaders in law

Fresh targets are starting to bear fruit, FN's ranking suggests Photo: Vuk Valcic/Getty Images

Women dominated FN'sRising Stars of Legal Services this year, accounting for 18 out of 25 lawyers on the list, which is our pick of the most promising professionals under the age of 40 working in Europe.

It follows efforts from law firms to improve diversity at all levels, with many setting gender and ethnicity targets for associate hires and partner promotions. Those efforts are paying off, with women making up more than a third of the 2023 partner promotions at each of London’s elite Magic Circle firms.

There have also been several women elevated to the top of the large law firms over the past couple of years, including: Georgia Dawson, senior partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Aedamar Comiskey, senior partner at Linklaters; Karen Davies, global chair at Ashurst; and Sabina Comis, incoming global managing partner at Dechert.

However, men still make up the majority of senior roles at major law firms as FN’sFifty Most Influential Lawyers, published in April, shows. Men accounted for 70% of that list.

Meet this year’s female Rising Stars of Legal Services below. And if you want to be the first to see the next batch, sign up to FN Law here.

Tessa Agar, partner, Goodwin

Clare Baker, partner, Linklaters

Netanya Clixby, managing associate, Sidley Austin

Tereza Courmont Vlkova, partner, Paul Hastings

Olga Fedosova, partner, White & Case

Sarah Flaherty, partner, corporate, Weil Gotshal & Manges

Cathrine Foldberg Møller, partner and head of Luxembourg regulatory practice, Simmons & Simmons

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Nichola Foley, partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius

Charlotte Madden, partner and global co-head of infrastructure, Clifford Chance

Kritika Mohan, associate, Morrison & Foerster