Changing of the guard: DLA Piper elects next managing partner

Changing of the guard: DLA Piper elects next managing partner

DLA Piper has today (23 February) announced the election of Charles Severs as its next managing partner. His tenure will begin on 1 January 2025.

Severs moved to DLA Piper as a partner in 2003 from Herbert Smith Freehills.  A Legal 500 Hall of Famer for M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, Severs has an impressive client book including John Menzies, Symphony Technology, Science Group, Elekta, Hexcel, Puretech and Keller Group. Continue reading “Changing of the guard: DLA Piper elects next managing partner”

Shearman partners overlooked in Allen & Overy leadership race

Shearman partners overlooked in Allen & Overy leadership race

In a move that may not come as a surprise to most, Allen & Overy (A&O) has unveiled a list of contenders for the managing and senior partner roles, with no Shearman & Sterling partners in the race.

Private capital group co-chair and global banking practice co-head Philip Bowden (pictured) is among three lawyers vying for Wim Dejonghe’s crown as senior partner, alongside global projects, energy, natural resources and infrastructure board head David Lee and Abu Dhabi capital markets partner Khalid Garousha, who stepped into the role of interim managing partner in July following Gareth Price’s shock departure earlier in the month. Both Bowden and Lee are based in the firm’s London office. Continue reading “Shearman partners overlooked in Allen & Overy leadership race”

‘The firm is in excellent shape’: Boies Schiller elects new chair

‘The firm is in excellent shape’: Boies Schiller elects new chair

Partners at Boies Schiller Flexner have elected New York-based litigator and white-collar defence and internal investigations partner Matthew Schwartz as chair. Schwartz will step into the role from 1 January 2025 to serve for a three-year term.

He will take over from current chair and co-founder David Boies, who has held the position since the firm was established in 1997 and was elected to serve a final one-year term for 2024. Boies will remain a member of the executive board and will continue his active trial practice. Continue reading “‘The firm is in excellent shape’: Boies Schiller elects new chair”

Slaughters’ outgoing senior partner Cooke to follow fellow grandees in post-retirement pivot

Slaughters’ outgoing senior partner Cooke to follow fellow grandees in post-retirement pivot

Slaughter and May’s eminent senior partner Steve Cooke has become the latest law firm leader to embrace a change of direction post-retirement with the news that he is to join PR agency Brunswick Group.

Cooke (pictured) will finish his term as Slaughters’ senior partner on 30 April 2024 after which he will join Brunswick as a partner, tasked with advising clients on matters including M&A, crisis, disputes and litigation.

Continue reading “Slaughters’ outgoing senior partner Cooke to follow fellow grandees in post-retirement pivot”

‘A springboard for greater success’: Johnston elected as next Addleshaw managing partner

‘A springboard for greater success’: Johnston elected as next Addleshaw managing partner

Addleshaw Goddard has announced that Andrew Johnston has been successful in securing the position of the firm’s managing partner through an uncontested election, serving a four-year term to start on 1 May 2024.

Having joined the firm in 2013 to oversee the firm’s M&A practice in the Middle East, Johnston (pictured) previously worked at Clifford Chance. He became a board member in 2014 and assumed the role of head of Middle East and Asia in 2019, during which time he led the firm’s Middle Eastern business to record financial performances. Continue reading “‘A springboard for greater success’: Johnston elected as next Addleshaw managing partner”

‘The transition is over’: BCLP names Jinal Shah as new UK managing partner

‘The transition is over’: BCLP names Jinal Shah as new UK managing partner

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) announced this week that Jinal Shah will become the firm’s UK managing partner from 1 January 2024.

He is taking over from Segun Osuntokun, who served in this role since 2018, with Osuntokun now appointed as BCLP’s first global senior partner, also effective from 1 January. Continue reading “‘The transition is over’: BCLP names Jinal Shah as new UK managing partner”

New brooms for Travers Smith as partnership elects Gillen to senior partner

New brooms for Travers Smith as partnership elects Gillen to senior partner

Travers Smith today (6 November) announced the election of Andrew Gillen as senior partner.

With a term commencing on 1 January 2024, Gillen will succeed acting senior partner Siân Keall, who has been in the role, first in a part-time capacity since January 2023, and then full-time since 30 June following Kathleen Russ’s decision to step down from the role. Keall will remain a member of the firm’s partnership board until the end of her final term in June 2024. Continue reading “New brooms for Travers Smith as partnership elects Gillen to senior partner”

‘Ambition, confidence and opportunity’: Eversheds selects new members of its senior leadership team

‘Ambition, confidence and opportunity’: Eversheds selects new members of its senior leadership team

Eversheds Sutherland has announced several new appointments to its senior leadership team across its practice groups and business services teams.

Succeeding Paul Worth, who is retiring at the end of December following 21 years at the firm, Mark Davenport will take on the role of litigation and dispute management practice group head. Davenport led the commercial dispute resolution team for the last three years. Taking on Davenport’s role as head of CDR is Lisa Barge, the former head of real estate litigation, whose boots will in turn be filled by Will Densham. Continue reading “‘Ambition, confidence and opportunity’: Eversheds selects new members of its senior leadership team”

Weil set for new London leadership as longstanding office head Mike Francies prepares to step down

Weil set for new London leadership as longstanding office head Mike Francies prepares to step down

Longstanding Weil Gotshal & Manges London managing partner Mike Francies is set to step down after more than 20 years in the role. Francies, who joined Weil from Clifford Chance in 1998 and started leading the office two years later, will retire at the end of 2024.

Public M&A partner David Avery-Gee and private equity partner Jonathan Wood will work alongside Francies as co-managing partners for a transition period starting in January 2024. Continue reading “Weil set for new London leadership as longstanding office head Mike Francies prepares to step down”

‘We want to associate ourselves with winners’: Hogan Lovells’ Zaldivar sets out stall for second CEO term

‘We want to associate ourselves with winners’: Hogan Lovells’ Zaldivar sets out stall for second CEO term

The partnership of Hogan Lovells has voted in chief executive Miguel Zaldivar for a second four-year term, the firm today (5 September) confirmed.

The move follows on from the firm’s board’s unanimous recommendation that Zaldivar (pictured) be re-elected for a term starting on 1 July 2024, subject to a partner vote, which closed at the end of August. Continue reading “‘We want to associate ourselves with winners’: Hogan Lovells’ Zaldivar sets out stall for second CEO term”