Olswang has named international strategy head David Stewart as its new managing partner in a shake-up of the firm’s senior management, as the City outfit moves to fill the shoes of outgoing chief executive Jonathan Goldstein.
The changes will see Stewart take over as managing partner from 1 May, with chief operating officer (COO) Kevin Munslow stepping up to chief executive. Both appointments carry three-year terms and are effective from 1 May.
Senior partner Mark Devereux, meanwhile, has been handed a further three years in his current role.
Stewart, a litigation partner who has been on the firm’s management board since 2004, saw off competition from banking head Moni Mannings and media, communications and technology chief David Zeffman to take the managing partner role. He will now chair a new strategy board to oversee the firm’s development in the UK and internationally.
Munslow, who has been COO for eight years, will chair the firm’s management board, which handles the firm’s day-to-day operations and finances.
Meanwhile Devereux, who was a founding member of Olswang more than 25 years ago, will focus on external communications, partner performance and senior lateral hires, as well as continuing his media practice.
Commenting on the appointments, Berwin Leighton Paisner managing partner Neville Eisenberg told Legal Week: “The key is to have credibility within the partnership. Being a heavy-hitting M&A partner with big-name clients is one way to get that credibility but it is not the only way and it can be built over time. Credibility in the partnership is more important than background.”
He added: “Goldstein was a good leader with a strong personality but the firm can move on from the Goldstein era and continue to be successful.”
Michael Frawley, managing partner at Taylor Wessing, said: “While on the face of it it may look unusual for a litigator to be managing partner of a media firm like Olswang, they have obviously identified David as the right man for the job.”
One partner at a rival firm commented: “It’s a management job so you’re looking primarily for someone who can manage and interact with people. When Jonathan got that job he had no real reputation as a lawyer but he was an entrepreneur and brought the firm forward in leaps and bounds. The issue now is what sort of firm [Olswang] will become.”
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