Female partner promotions across the UK top 10 have increased by more than a third this year, as the country’s largest firms push forward with efforts to boost gender diversity in their senior ranks.

The total number of women made up at the 10 largest legal practices by revenue rose 36% to 72 this year, up from last year’s figure of 53, with the increase comparing favourably to an overall rise in partner promotions across the group of 13%.