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Camerons prepares for election as five go head-to-head for top spot

Author: charlotte.edmond@legalweek.com

Published: 25/10/2007 03:21

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CMS Cameron McKenna is gearing up for a hotly-contested management election with five candidates throwing their hats into the ring before the formal nomination period closes.

Head of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Duncan Weston and respected corporate partner Louise Wallace are the latest candidates to come forward, joining property head Edward Benzecry, commercial head Nigel Moore and corporate partner Niall McAlister.

The five candidates are expected to be confirmed by the firm’s board in the coming weeks, prior to a November election.

Incumbent managing partner Dick Tyler’s term at the helm is due to come to an end in April 2008 and, having already served the maximum of two four-year terms, he is required to step down from the post. He will remain at the firm and is considering a number of roles including a return to fee earning.

The emergence of Weston and Wallace is significant as partners believe the contest could be closely-fought.

Weston, a corporate partner who primarily devotes his time to managing the firm’s highly successful CEE network, has overseen a number of the firm’s recent developments in the region, including this year opening a new office in Kiev.

Wallace, meanwhile, leads a strong hotel and consumer products practice within the firm. She recently advised the Royal Bank of Scotland on its £1bn disposal of 47 Marriott hotels — one of the firm’s largest deals this year.

The process is being overseen by senior partner Richard Price and Tyler’s replacement will be announced at a partner conference next month.

One Camerons’ partner commented: “Dick has made a real success of the position and has driven the firm through a period of change. I would not say as yet whether there is one stand-out candidate to win, but whoever takes the baton has a lot to take on.”

During Tyler’s period in office, the firm has ushered in a number of significant changes including earlier this year turning its back on the all-equity partnership it introduced in 2000 to create a new tier of salaried partners. In July this year it also shut its small Hong Kong office in a drive to become Euro-focused after launching an initiative to bring its CMS alliance firms closer together.

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