Jeremy Cohen will lead Dentons’ UK and Middle East operations until 2021 after the partnership approved him for a second term following an election in which he stood unopposed.
Meanwhile, the firm also announced today (14 December) that UK managing partner Brandon Ransley has decided to step down from his role in April 2018 and retire from the partnership.
A partner since 2000, former head of the London corporate practice Cohen was first appointed UK, Middle East and Africa chief executive in March 2015 and has overseen the expansion of the firm in those regions over the past three years, most notably through the merger with Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens announced this summer.
However, Cohen attributed Dentons UKME’s recent modest financial performance to a ‘more difficult UK market’ in 2016/17: the firm saw a 1% increase in revenue to £166.4m and a 9% fall in profit per equity partner to £481,000.
His role was changed this summer to only cover Europe and the Middle East, when Dentons established a separate governance for Africa and appointed Noor Kapdi as its regional chief executive.
Cohen said of his reappointment: ‘It is a privilege to lead such a talented group of partners. Following the completion of a number of growth and innovation initiatives during the past three years, I am convinced that we now have both a team and platform in place to drive forward and continue our success in the years ahead.’
Ransley joined Dentons’ Milton Keynes office in November 2008 from Howes Percival and ran Dentons’ office from 2009 before taking on the UK managing partner role in 2010. He will continue at Dentons as a special adviser, a role which will allow him to spend more time close to his family in Buckinghamshire.
Cohen will appoint Ransley’s replacement early next year.