Addleshaws begins management elections as Devitt stands down early

Addleshaw Goddard has started the week with news that managing partner Paul Devitt is to step down early, while partners are up in arms over miscalculated partner profit points and it has resigned itself to losing out on recovering a signifcant success fee.

The top 25 LB100 firm confirmed this morning (17 March) that Devitt is to stand down a year before his tenure is due to end on 30 April 2015, kick-starting an election process to ‘coincide with the next iteration’ of the firm’s strategy.

Continue reading “Addleshaws begins management elections as Devitt stands down early”

Head of Manhattan – Adam Siegel takes over as Freshfields US managing partner

One of the more successful of the Magic Circle practices in Wall Street, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Adam Siegel to take over as its new US managing partner when current US head Julian Pritchard steps down on April 30. Siegel’s term will run for three years. Continue reading “Head of Manhattan – Adam Siegel takes over as Freshfields US managing partner”

Magic Circle leadership: Slaughters appoints Ryde and McClean as head of corporate and finance

In a week that has seen Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer appoint firm lifer Julian Long as London managing partner, Slaughter and May today announced that Andy Ryde has taken over as head of corporate and Andrew McClean as head of finance, both who trained with the Magic Circle firm. Continue reading “Magic Circle leadership: Slaughters appoints Ryde and McClean as head of corporate and finance”

Freshfields lifer Julian Long takes over from Rawlinson as London managing partner

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has named current London corporate head and Freshfields lifer Julian Long as its new London managing partner, taking over from incumbent Mark Rawlinson, who is returning to client work.

Long, an M&A partner, has earned his stripes having been at Freshfields for his entire career, making partner in 1995 and being promoted to head of London corporate in June 2011. His former roles include sector group leader for the consumer, health and retail group. Continue reading “Freshfields lifer Julian Long takes over from Rawlinson as London managing partner”

Wragges announces post-merger management line-up but Addleshaws faces scrutiny over leadership team

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For Addleshaw Goddard the timing could have been more flattering. On the day that national rival Wragge & Co confirmed a new look management line-up in anticipation of its tie-up with Lawrence Graham (LG) in May, uncomfortable attention has been focused on the leadership of national rival Addleshaws.

In the wake of Wragges’ announcement in December that its £171m merger will go ahead, with Wragge Lawrence Graham expected to edge ahead of Addleshaws in the LB100 top 25 for the first time, the firm today (17 February) confirmed that its five core practice group heads have now been decided, all who will sit on the management board, with four of the appointments coming from Wragges and one from LG. Continue reading “Wragges announces post-merger management line-up but Addleshaws faces scrutiny over leadership team”

Skadden’s London head Buck steps down as the City claims global management positions in energy and litigation

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s longstanding European head Bruce Buck has stepped down from his role as London head as the leading Wall Street firm also makes a series of senior appointments that have seen a shift in power to the City.

After 25 years as Skadden’s City head, London-office founder Buck (pictured) has been replaced by corporate partner Pranav Trivedi. Buck will continue to serve as the firm’s European head. Continue reading “Skadden’s London head Buck steps down as the City claims global management positions in energy and litigation”

Updated: Management shake up for DLA Piper as Knowles takes over as global co-chair and Levine put forward for co-CEO role

DLA Piper’s co-chief executive (CEO) Nigel Knowles is to replace Tony Angel as global co-chairman in a senior management shake-up which has also seen London IP and technology partner Simon Levine proposed as global co-CEO, partners at the firm heard this afternoon (4 February).

Current Americas co-chair and corporate and finance practice head Roger Meltzer has been put forward to sit alongside Knowles (pictured) in the global co-chair role, while, Americas co-chair Jay Rains has been proposed as joint global CEO alongside Levine.

Former Linklaters managing partner Angel will continue as senior partner until his term expires in 16 months as the international managing partner role which Knowles currently holds will be phased out.

Levine’s recommendation, which has been put forward by the executive board, needs to be approved by the international partnership and will take effect from 1 January 2015. Continue reading “Updated: Management shake up for DLA Piper as Knowles takes over as global co-chair and Levine put forward for co-CEO role”

Leadership: Maclay Murray & Spens CEO Smylie to step down as Shand takes the reins

After a tough three years Maclay Murray & Spens’ (MMS) chief executive Chris Smylie is to step down from his role, with corporate head Kenneth Shand to take over the reins of a firm which has seen revenue drop 33% since its £61.1m high in 2008 but is now executing significant changes out of a root and branch strategic review.

Smylie, who has chosen not to stand for a second term, will return to his role as a partner in MMS’ planning team. In the interim, he will work with Shand to ensure a smooth transition to becoming CEO in June. Continue reading “Leadership: Maclay Murray & Spens CEO Smylie to step down as Shand takes the reins”

Blue sky thinking – A&O initiative to adopt and roll out new business ideas from clients

Following on from its roll out of high-end contract lawyer service Peerpoint last November, Allen & Overy is continuing to challenge and develop its model with the introduction of an initiative to adopt new business practices from its clients.

The Magic Circle giant, led by senior partner David Morley, has pulled together five panels of between five and eight partners covering Asia Pacific; Middle East and Africa; Continental Europe; the US and the UK, to target its clients for ideas not usually seen in the legal sector across the entire business function including finance, human resources, strategy and IT. Continue reading “Blue sky thinking – A&O initiative to adopt and roll out new business ideas from clients”