Young, whose four-year term will officially come to an end in April 2008, has told the firm’s partnership council that he wants to continue in the role if he has the support of the partnership.
He has appointed German corporate partner and council member Michael Leistikow to formally co-ordinate the election process.
The consultation began in mid-July and an initial nomination period ended this week (31 July). Partners are able to nominate themselves or anyone else they would like to see in the role.
Early indications suggest it is unlikely that anyone will stand against Young and that he will be appointed for a second four-year term.
During the last four years Young has presided over a number of controversial reviews of the law firm’s lockstep, which ended earlier this year, as well as the firm’s conversion to a limited liability partnership, which came into effect in May.
Young told Legal Week: “I want to make sure the process is fair so I have detached myself from it. I have told people that I am very happy to do it again — if people want me to.”
Once the results have been announced to the partnership a statutory nomination period will begin, giving partners a second chance to put forward other names.
This is expected to end in September with the appointment going to a formal vote of the partners at the firm’s annual November partnership meeting.
Young’s first election to the position was contested. He beat former senior partner Andrew Walker and corporate finance head Hugh Nineham in the final stages.
Meanwhile, Lovells this week appointed
