With Paul Rawlinson vacating the London managing partner post at Baker & McKenzie in October after winning the race to become the next global chairman, partner Alex Chadwick is set to take charge of the firm’s largest office.
Chadwick, who currently heads Baker & McKenzie’s London tax practice, has been appointed London managing partner for a three-year term. He will begin the role on 1 September, overseeing around 390 lawyers operating in London.
The London managing partner role carries considerable weight at Baker & McKenzie, with Rawlinson having used this platform to launch his successful bid to become chair while his London predecessor, Gary Senior, went on to become chair of the EMEA region. Rawlinson replaces Eduardo Leite, who has been global chair since 2010.
Chadwick (pictured) is a Baker & McKenzie lifer, having joined as a trainee in 1990 before making partner in 1999. He said: ‘Following the result of the recent referendum, I look forward to ensuring that the London office continues to advise and guide our clients through what will be challenging and exciting unchartered waters.’
Despite a poor global performance last year, London revenue at Baker & McKenzie rose 9% in the 12 months to 30 June 2015 to £145m. The £12m increase was the City office’s biggest jump revenue in the last five years, with performance flat in 2013 and 2014. During that period, the firm’s global revenue dropped 4% to $2.43bn while profits fell 12% to $799m.
tom.moore@legalease.co.uk
