Lovells senior partner John Young is set to stand uncontested for a second term in the City firm’s upcoming management elections, it has emerged, after an initial consultation process revealed no serious rivals for the top position.
Partnership council member Michael Leistikow, who is formally co-ordinating the election process, told partners last week that the pre-nomination consultation stage had failed to throw up any other senior partner candidates.
Young, whose current term at Lovells’ helm will come to an end in April 2008, is the only partner to have signalled an interest in the role during the consultation period, although the top 10
It is now unlikely that anyone else will put themselves forward for the role during the formal stage, which is due to come to an end later this month. However, if any last-minute candidates emerge, the firm can still launch a full election.
The new senior partner is due to be formally voted in by Lovells’ partnership in November.
Leistikow told Legal Week: “There is still time for a candidate to announce themselves — but it will not be a surprise if the election is uncontested. There will still be a vote and if the majority do not support John, then the process would start again. However, this is unlikely as John has a lot of support among the partnership.”
Young, a corporate lawyer, has already confirmed to the City firm’s partnership council that he wants to continue in the role for another four-year term, provided he has the full support of the partnership.
His original promotion to senior partner in April 2004 came in the wake of a fiercely-contested election process, in which Young saw off competition from former senior partner Andrew Walker and corporate head Hugh Nineham.
Young’s first four-year tenure has seen him preside over a number of controversial reviews of the firm’s lockstep, as well as its conversion to limited liability partnership status, which took effect from May this year.
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