After a four-month election, Allen & Overy (A&O)’s C-suite for the next four years was revealed last month with corporate lawyers Wim Dejonghe and Andrew Ballheimer chosen as the new leaders.
Arguably the only Magic Circle firm to keep pace with US rivals over the last five years, A&O’s partnership opted for continuity as Dejonghe, who has been managing partner for the past eight years, was named senior partner. Co-head of corporate Ballheimer joined him as global managing partner, giving the management duo at A&O – which has traditionally included a partner from the firm’s signature banking group – a distinctly corporate look.
The pair faced tough competition, with Dejonghe beating dispute resolution head Tim House, banking co-head Stephen Kensell and Paris-based competition partner Michel Struys, while Ballheimer outran banking co-head Andrew Trahair, banking partner Michael Castle and Tokyo-based project finance partner Simon Black.
Historically, individual hustings have been the general rule during A&O management elections, but this time Ballheimer and Kensell attempted to run as a
joint ticket, which did not float the partnership. The united approach was previously attempted by outgoing senior partner David Morley and Dejonghe when the pair were up for election in 2008 and was rejected, although the duo won the election as individuals.
An A&O source close to the process confirmed some ‘partners may have aligned, but all candidates supplied individual election statements’.
One partner at the firm said: ‘It has been a long time since the firm has had an election like this so this outcome is a very big deal.’
The election process kick-started at the end of 2015 with a small, partner-driven organising committee overseeing the process. Candidates were asked to put themselves forward in November with official statements being issued in December. Voting officially opened on 2 February.
The incoming heads will take up their roles on 1 May. On this date, Morley will retire from the firm after 36 years. The new leaders will announce their policies at A&O’s partner conference later that month.
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk