As part of the first major changes to its corporate governance structure in 14 years Clifford Chance yesterday (24 July) voted to dispense with regional and practice head elections in favour of appointment by managing partner Matthew Layton.
Clifford Chance overhauls its management structure with introduction of new executive leadership group
Clifford Chance (CC) has today (24 July) announced a raft of changes to its governance structure, including the establishment of a new 12-strong executive leadership group and the creation of three global business units to cover financial markets; M&A and corporate transactions; and risk management and disputes. Continue reading “Clifford Chance overhauls its management structure with introduction of new executive leadership group”
US firm Ropes & Gray has reshuffled its City management in a bid to re-focus capabilities across Europe
Five years on from the launch of its London office, co-managing partners Mike Goetz and Maurice Allen will split from their dual role with Allen appointed to the newly created role of senior partner. Goetz continues as London head and co-head of the firm’s finance practice alongside Jay Kim in New York and Byung Choi in Boston.
Stress testing the strategy – post-merger Ashurst calls in Bain for ‘market insight’
It’s been a bumpy road into the Global Top 50 but with a high stakes merger with Australia’s Blake Dawson going live last year, Ashurst has called in bluechip consultants Bain & Company to polish its strategy.
Management: Nabarro reappoints Inkester as managing partner after first election in 15 years
Having geared up for its first managing partner elections in 15 years, the partnership at top 30 LB 100 firm Nabarro has voted to re-appoint Andrew Inkester in the leadership role after an uncontested election. Continue reading “Management: Nabarro reappoints Inkester as managing partner after first election in 15 years”
Comment: Advice for the new managing partner – don’t consult, just do
Given the amount of time I spend hanging out with managing partners it’s not unusual to be asked by law firms how they could tweak their governance or how they stack up against peers.
In one such recent conversation, I got to thinking about how best to prepare the new managing partner for the culture shock of moving from the clear purpose of a revenue-generating role to the ambiguous job spec of running a law firm. Continue reading “Comment: Advice for the new managing partner – don’t consult, just do”
Leadership: Latham elects Bill Voge to take over from Bob Dell after eight-month selection process
Following a rigorous eight-month selection process, London-based projects partner Bill Voge has been elected to take over from Latham & Watkins retiring global chair and managing partner Robert Dell, who leaves the firm after two decades in management and an increase in revenue from $260m at the start of his tenure to $2.285bn in the latest financial year. Continue reading “Leadership: Latham elects Bill Voge to take over from Bob Dell after eight-month selection process”
Clifford Chance’s global MP Matthew Layton talks expansion and ambition for his first four-year term
The past week has seen Clifford Chance emerge as the star performer among its Magic Circle rivals, with a 7% rise in revenues to £1.36bn. Legal Business asked newly-appointed global managing partner Matthew Layton about the 2,945-lawyer firm’s plans for international expansion and his ambitions over his first four-year term. Continue reading “Clifford Chance’s global MP Matthew Layton talks expansion and ambition for his first four-year term”
Advice for the new managing partner: don’t consult, just do
Given the amount of time I spend hanging out with managing partners it’s not unusual to be asked by law firms how they could tweak their governance or how they stack up against peers.
In one such recent conversation, I got to thinking about how best to prepare the new managing partner for the culture shock of moving from the clear purpose of a revenue-generating role to the ambiguous job spec of running a law firm. Continue reading “Advice for the new managing partner: don’t consult, just do”
Ceasefire or guerrilla skirmishes – Ashurst struggles to reconcile its post-merger factions
Jaishree Kalia reports on the uneasy peace still hanging over the post-merger Ashurst
It’s been over eight months since Charlie Geffen, the high-profile head of Ashurst, suffered a bruising leadership defeat to litigator Ben Tidswell (pictured) in the wake of the City firm’s merger vote with its Australian partner.
There was no doubt the election defeat of the strong-willed Geffen, who divided the City firm’s partnership into staunch supporters and embittered opponents, and the legacy of its merger with Australian leader Blake Dawson had unsettled the firm. The discharge of Geffen as the ‘war-time’ leader who carried the firm’s strategy and brand through the post-Lehman years is still hard to take for some, while the merger has not convinced everyone. The somewhat ill-tempered resignation in November of highly rated corporate co-head Stephen Lloyd for Allen & Overy (A&O) was an all-too visible sign of that tension – and the lack of engagement felt by the ‘boys’ club’ in Ashurst’s corporate finance teams.