Fewer than half of Australia’s largest legal partnerships have grown in the last six months and the number of partners at the 50 largest firms is up just 0.3 per cent, as a flat legal market begins to take hold across the sector.

At five of the big six firms – MinterEllison, Ashurst, King & Wood Mallesons, Herbert Smith Freehills and Allens – partner numbers were down in the six months, the latest Australian Financial Review Law Partnership Survey shows.