Addleshaw Goddard has confirmed two candidates for its upcoming senior partner election to replace senior partner Monica Burch.
M&A partner Andrew Carpenter and head of corporate finance Charles Penney have both put their names forward to replace Burch on May 1. Burch was first elected to the role in 2010.
A partner at Addleshaws for over nine years, Carpenter leads the team responsible for its international strategy, implementation and its relationships with law firms in jurisdictions outside of England and Wales.
Penney, who joined the firm in 2005 from legacy firm Lovells had worked as the firm’s resident managing partner for New York and did a secondment as secretary of the UK Takeover Panel.
At the time of the firm’s proposed leadership shake-up of its partnership terms and governance structure late last year, it was discussed that the senior partner role may be reduced to a part time position. An Addleshaws spokesperson said the role would continue to be full time as Burch’s was, but that the successful candidate would continue to engage in work with clients.
Legal Business also reported managing partner John Joyce favoured an external appointment for the senior partner role. The firm did not wish to comment on this point.
Last month merger talks between Addleshaws and Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens were called off. The deal, which would have created a national practice with combined revenues of around £230m, was planned to go ahead in May this year.
Addleshaws has been clear that it wants to make £250m in fee income by the financial year 2017/18, which a takeover would have helped achieve.
madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk
