The firm’s partners will meet in a fortnight to discuss plans to change the roles in a process that looks likely to narrow the remit of the chief executive position.
As a result of the changes, senior partner Mark Devereux is expected to take on more responsibility for providing a public profile and managing client relations, while the chief executive is likely to handle day-to-day operational issues and oversee relations with other firms.
Olswang currently has a trio of leaders in the shape of Devereux, Goldstein and chief operating officer Kevin Munslow. Goldstein, who for almost a decade has been by far the best known of the three, is leaving the firm in April to join a client. Partners have suggested Munslow’s role is unlikely to alter.
One partner commented: “Although we have not fine-tuned what the role will be, it will not be the same as Jonathan’s. The firm is different to when Jonathan first took on the role. We are no longer a start-up and Mark will give us the more mature and sophisticated image that we need.”
Another partner added: “We will decide what the job is and then fit the person to it. Jonathan did a mixture of jobs and had a lot of limelight. No-one else would fit that bill, and nor would we want them to.”
Current front-runners to replace Goldstein include head of litigation and international strategy David Stewart, banking head Moni Mannings, and media communications and technology head David Zeffman. Head of property Tim Westhead has also been put forward.
The firm is keen to avoid infighting over the position, and hopes that one or possibly two candidates will emerge by consensus before the formal vote, which is due to commence this month.