Legal Business

Senior appointments: Linklaters appoints new US head as Dentons picks Jones’ successor as UKMEA chief

Yesterday saw two high-level legal appointments with Linklaters appointing Scott Bowie as head of its global US practice and Dentons selecting London partner Jeremy Cohen as UKMEA CEO.

Bowie, who is based in New York, joined Linklaters in 2005 as a partner from Latham & Watkins and has served as global head of the firm’s investment management group. His new role as head of the firm’s US practice will give him a seat on the firm’s executive committee and will see him look to develop the firm’s global US law offering while also advising clients.

Commenting on Bowie’s appointment, Linklaters’ managing partner Simon Davies said Bowie’s experience and global outlook make him ideal for leading the firm’s cross-border US law offering. He added: ‘Our aim is to help our US clients achieve their global goals by supporting them through an outstanding global network, and our international clients realize their ambitions in the US and Latin America through the strength of our Global US Practice.’

Meanwhile, Dentons has appointed Jeremy Cohen to the role of UKMEA chief executive for a four-year term, succeeding Matthew Jones when he steps down on 15 March.

Cohen, who has been a partner at the firm since 2000, brings management experience gained by having already served on the UKMEA regional board since 2011, and the regional management committee since it was formed in 2014. He also currently leads the UKMEA’s corporate and TMT division and was head of the corporate department in London between 2007-2011.

Elliott Portnoy, Dentons’ global CEO, said, ‘Since our combination almost two years ago, the UKMEA region has been a leading example of the benefits of our strategy – seeing a significant increase in work from our Asia, Canada, Europe and US regions – and it will continue to be key to our firm’s success.’

Cohen added: ‘It is a great privilege to have been appointed as UKMEA CEO at this, a pivotal moment in our firm’s history. I am looking forward to leading our region through the next stage of the firm’s development and ensuring this transformative opportunity is leveraged for the benefit of our clients and, ultimately, us all.’

kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk