Pinsent Masons is getting ready for its first management elections since current managing partner David Ryan was elected in 1999, after 2012 elections were delayed.
Partners at the top 20 firm will vote for both a managing partner and a senior partner at ‘some stage in the next financial year’, Pinsents confirmed today (31 March) in a statement, with more precise dates yet to be decided.
Both sets of elections had been due to take place in October 2012, but were delayed after the firm merged with McGrigors in May 2012.
Incumbent managing partner Ryan was reappointed in October 2008 following an uncontested election process, having been initially voted in as managing partner of Pinsent Curtis in 1999.
During his time in leadership he has overseen three mergers – the first, with Biddle in 2001, followed by the Masons merger in 2004 and most recently with McGrigors.
Meawhile, Pinsents’ senior partner Chris Mullen took up his second four-year term in July 2008, also after an uncontested election. He initially took up the post in 2005 when longstanding former senior partner Julian Tonks stood down due to ill health.
News of the elections comes as Pinsent Masons also announced today that it has promoted 15 to its partnership this year, up by one on last year when the firm made up 14.
Four of the promotions – which will take effect from 1 May 2014 – are outside the UK, of lawyers in the Shanghai, Dubai and Singapore offices and the first-ever partner promotion in Doha. This is the largest round of international promotions made by the firm to date.
The firm said that in promoting those in energy and natural resources, financial services, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing and technology among others, it was re-affirming its sector focus.
In addition, 16 lawyers will be appointed to the role of legal director.
Ryan said: ‘Pinsent Masons has maintained a strong track-record of investing in and nurturing the best talent in the market over recent years notwithstanding the severity of the global economic downturn.
‘As we continue to expand internationally and see some signs of positive growth returning in the UK, the firm is well-placed to meet the needs of clients in the core sectors and markets in which we operate as a result of those investments. All of our successful candidates should be extremely proud of their achievement.’
francesca.fanshawe@legalease.co.uk
