Ashurst  will ask equity partners to pay capital into the firm for the first time, The Lawyer has reported. The system will see partners invest an amount every autumn calculated on the number of equity points they hold. Laterals will now have to invest in the firm when they join.

The Lawyer noted that legacy Blake Dawson partners would not be affected by the change and will retain their current system of paying the same flat amount every year as capital.  The previous system at Ashurst UK was to retain capital in the business by holding back a percentage of partner profits at the end of each financial year.

Ashurst and the former Blake Dawson will continue to operate as separate partnerships until a vote on full integration is taken in 2014.