Gowling WLG, formerly Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, has promoted two directors to its partnership.

Chris Towle and Michael Twining joined the partnership on 1 May, boosting the firm's capabilities in corporate and real estate and taking the total number of partners in the UK to 145.

Chief executive David Fennell said: "This is our first round of promotions as Gowling WLG and the quality of our newly promoted partners is as high as ever. Chris and Mike are two truly fantastic lawyers with outstanding technical skills. They are committed to excellence in client service and I am very pleased to welcome them to our partnership."

Corporate lawyer Chris advises clients on all forms of corporate transactions, restructurings and governance, with particular experience in major corporate restructurings, private equity and indirect real estate. He has been with the firm since starting his training contract in 2004.

The majority of his work involves international corporates, funds or other cross-border elements and he co-leads the European side of Gowling WLG's US sales team, regularly visiting Washington and Philadelphia in particular. Highlights include advising on the UK aspects of an £18 billion global restructuring for a US-led major corporate client and acting for a biotech company on its £91 million cross-border acquisition by a NASDAQ-listed US pharmaceutical corporation.

The majority of his work involves international corporates, funds or other cross-border elements and he co-leads the European side of Gowling WLG's US sales team, regularly visiting Washington and Philadelphia in particular. Highlights include advising on the UK aspects of an £18 billion global restructuring for a US-led major corporate client and acting for a biotech company on its £91 million cross-border acquisition by a NASDAQ-listed US pharmaceutical corporation.

Splitting his time between the firm's London and Birmingham offices, Mike's highlights include advising a large-scale privately held real estate investor on its acquisition of an extensive property portfolio for £635 million, encompassing 7.1 million square feet of office and industrial assets across the UK; acting for a private equity house on its £575 million acquisition of a hotel chain and advising Argent on the high-profile sale of Brindleyplace in Birmingham, including, most recently, Eleven Brindleyplace.

This week Gowling WLG has also announced the promotion of 17 lawyers to the role of legal director, effective 1 July 2016.

The new directors are: Bradley Silver and Khalil Ahmad (commercial development & investment), Catherine Naylor and Tim Crockford (commercial litigation), Chris Morris (specialist real estate services), Chris Stiles, Joanne Tibbott, Suzanne Mortimer and Kevin Gude (pensions), Courtney Rothery (construction, Dubai), Ed Hall (banking & finance), Julia Ramsden Gunduz (private capital), Julie Vuagnoux (public law, Paris), Mark Stephenson (construction), Matt Hervey (intellectual property), Oliver Bretherton (real estate finance) and Samuel Beighton (competition & EU).

Gowling WLG is an international law firm created by Gowlings and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co. With more than 1,500 legal professionals across offices in 18 cities worldwide and specialised expertise in countries around the globe, our clients have access to in-depth expertise in key global sectors along with a top-tier suite of legal services.