London rules again as Latham elects deal finance guru Trobman as new chief

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London rules again as Latham elects deal finance guru Trobman as new chief

Latham & Watkins is sticking to London for its new chair and managing partner, electing deal finance heavyweight Richard Trobman to the role.

Previously the firm’s co-vice chair, Trobman will step into the role immediately, bringing to an end a three-month long search for a successor to Bill Voge, who resigned from the firm in March amid allegations of misconduct involving communications with a woman outside the firm. Continue reading “London rules again as Latham elects deal finance guru Trobman as new chief”

Tidswell goes unchallenged in securing second term as Ashurst chair

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Tidswell goes unchallenged in securing second term as Ashurst chair

Ben Tidswell has been handed another term as chair of Ashurst following an election which last week culminated in his leadership going unchallenged.

The City firm launched an election process at the start of May, giving opponents until the end of that month to put themselves forward for the role. But it is understood no other partners stood in the election. Continue reading “Tidswell goes unchallenged in securing second term as Ashurst chair”

Taylor Wessing finalises leadership overhaul as litigation chief succeeds veteran managing partner Eyles

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Taylor Wessing finalises leadership overhaul as litigation chief succeeds veteran managing partner Eyles

Taylor Wessing has completed its management reshuffle with the election of the law firm’s litigation co-head Shane Gleghorn (pictured) to managing partner.

Gleghorn succeeds veteran managing partner Tim Eyles, who announced in December he would be stepping down days before the 1,000-lawyer firm elected Dominic FitzPatrick as its new senior partner, replacing Adam Marks after six years. Continue reading “Taylor Wessing finalises leadership overhaul as litigation chief succeeds veteran managing partner Eyles”

KPMG: Still not a law firm, still not being taken lightly

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KPMG: Still not a law firm, still not being taken lightly

KPMG’s global head of legal Jürg Birri (pictured) does not know how much it will cost to reach its target of doubling its legal services arm to 3,000 lawyers in the next three years.

He floats $50m and $100m, but for him it is beside the point. It is the appetite he is seeing from KPMG’s member firms – spread across 154 countries and territories – wanting to invest in setting up a legal services arm. Continue reading “KPMG: Still not a law firm, still not being taken lightly”

Brettle bows out as White & Case London head to focus on going toe-to-toe with the Magic Circle

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Brettle bows out as White & Case London head to focus on going toe-to-toe with the Magic Circle

Oliver Brettle has stepped down as White & Case’s London executive partner after a decade, with US securities partner Melissa Butler named his successor.

The move comes on the instruction of New York-based chair Hugh Verrier, who asked White & Case stalwart Brettle to concentrate on the firm’s 2020 strategy, which includes competing ‘toe-to-toe’ with the Magic Circle in the City. Continue reading “Brettle bows out as White & Case London head to focus on going toe-to-toe with the Magic Circle”

UK rules: London in the spotlight as Mayer Brown appoints City veteran Clay as managing partner

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UK rules: London in the spotlight as Mayer Brown appoints City veteran Clay as managing partner

In a marked shift in leadership away from its Illinois roots, Global 100 giant Mayer Brown has appointed City-based veteran Jeremy Clay as its new managing partner.

Global real estate head Clay will replace Washington-based litigator Kenneth Geller, who took on the role in 2009. Continue reading “UK rules: London in the spotlight as Mayer Brown appoints City veteran Clay as managing partner”

The future in the instant: Burness completes leadership overhaul of Scottish independents

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The future in the instant: Burness completes leadership overhaul of Scottish independents

With Brodies having completed a generational overhaul of its leadership recently, a changing of the guard at rival Scottish independent Burness Paull  will take place this summer for the first time in over a decade.

Burness Paull corporate head Peter Lawson and property and infrastructure head Tamar Tammes will become the firm’s chairman and managing partner respectively from August this year. They replace longstanding figurehead and chairman Philip Rodney and managing partner Ian Wattie, who have held their positions for more than 12 years. Continue reading “The future in the instant: Burness completes leadership overhaul of Scottish independents”

Gordon Dadds acquisition sweep continues but breakthrough deal remains illusive

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Gordon Dadds acquisition sweep continues but breakthrough deal remains illusive

Hamish McNicol speaks to chief executive Adrian Biles about tubthumping, going public and frustration

Gordon Dadds managing partner and group chief executive Adrian Biles talks ambitions for nearly an hour before recalling a story about a businessman who never smiled in photos. The reason being those photos were always the ones that would accompany any bad news stories further down the track. Continue reading “Gordon Dadds acquisition sweep continues but breakthrough deal remains illusive”

Corporate trumps disputes again as Palmer wins second term as HSF senior partner

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Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) lifer and incumbent James Palmer has seen off a challenge from disputes partner Mark Shillito to be re-elected as senior partner and chair of the firm.

After successfully winning approval from over 50% of the partnership  – although the firm could not confirm how many votes he received – Palmer will begin his second term of three years on 1 May.  Continue reading “Corporate trumps disputes again as Palmer wins second term as HSF senior partner”

#MeToo hits the highest levels of law as head of Latham quits over ‘sexual communications’

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#MeToo hits the highest levels of law as head of Latham quits over ‘sexual communications’

The #MeToo campaign has had a number of brushes with the legal industry but nothing like the shock news today (20 March): the head of the world’s highest-billing law firm Latham & Watkins has stepped down after a series of ‘voluntary disclosures… relating to personal conduct’.

Latham today issued a statement confirming that Bill Voge had offered his resignation after a series of disclosures to its executive team. Latham’s official statement notes that: ‘[Voge’s] conduct involved the exchange of communications of a sexual nature with a woman whom he has never met in person and who had no connection to the firm. Mr Voge’s conduct did not involve the firm, any of its clients, or its personnel. Mr Voge engaged in subsequent conduct relating to this matter that, while not unlawful, the executive committee concluded was not befitting the leader of the firm.’ Continue reading “#MeToo hits the highest levels of law as head of Latham quits over ‘sexual communications’”