Slaughter and May has named Graham White (pictured) as its new executive partner and Paul Olney as practice partner following a review of the magic circle firm's senior management.
White and Olney will take up their new roles at the beginning of May, replacing Melvyn Hughes and David Frank respectively. The roles were agreed last week following a partnership vote.
The appointments complete a new management troika at the elite City firm following the appointment last month of Chris Saul as Slaughters’ new senior partner.
White sits in the firm’s real estate department, and became a partner in 1987 having joined the firm in 1978. As executive partner he will be responsible for the firm’s overall management strategy including compliance and finances. He will also work as the firm’s training principal, in charge of each batch of trainees.
Olney – a corporate specialist who joined the firm in 1983 and became a partner in 1990 – will take responsibility for the planning and development of Slaughters’ practice in the City and across its ‘best friends’ network of overseas allies. He will also assist Saul in many of his roles.
Both appointments, which are effective from 1 May, carry an initial five-year term, although this may be extended. Olney and White both envisage continuing with some fee earning work.
Olney commented: “We have no managing partner so we divide the duties of the traditional role between the practice partner and the executive partner. I don’t expect there will be a revolution in terms of how the firm is managed.”
The practice partner role was recently made an elected position following an internal review, bringing the post into line with the firm’s two other senior management positions.
The job, which was created in 2001 when outgoing senior partner Tim Clark took the helm, was previously appointed at the discretion of the senior partner. In a further change, the practice partner will now sit on Slaughters’ board.
Hughes, who has been executive partner since the early 1990s, will remain at the firm for a transitional period before retiring. Frank, meanwhile, will retire when he steps down in April.
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Editors' Blog: A disarming new head to lead Slaughters
