Disputes heavyweight Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has revamped its City leadership team, with Richard East vacating the co-managing partner role to become senior partner in London. Ted Greeno, meanwhile, has moved into the co-managing partner position to head the firm alongside longstanding co-head Sue Prevezer QC.
East had been the co-managing partner alongside Prevezer since the firm launched its London office in 2008. Under East’s joint stewardship, Quinn’s ascent has been impressive, with the LA-born litigation outfit growing revenues 220% between 2008 and 2018 throughout Asia and Europe.
Meanwhile in February, the firm’s City revenues hit £83.6m after a 16% rise. Quinn also struck a big victory against Banco Popular in October 2018, representing a number of clients suing the bank for a loss of shares following its €1 sale to Santander in 2017.
A former Herbert Smith veteran who joined Quinn in 2013, Greeno (pictured) now assumes East’s former position and hopes to continue the current level of growth at the firm. ‘Over the years the firm has grown from essentially a start-up to a very substantial law firm,’ Greeno told Legal Business. ‘We want to move into the next stage now and continue to grow. The performance so far has been outstanding and I now want us to take advantage of our new size and scale.’
While no formal election took place, Greeno says his move into the vacant co-managing partner position came after broad consensus at the firm. East, meanwhile, is expected to continue fee-earning at the firm after becoming senior partner.
thomas.alan@legalbusiness.co.uk