Knowles, whose current term as chief executive ends in December, is intending to continue his tenure at the firm for another four years.
It is unlikely that anyone will stand against Knowles, who has become one of the most high profile leaders in law since heading the UK firm in 1996.
Under Knowles’ leadership the firm has seen significant expansion both in the City and internationally through ventures including the transatlantic tripartite merger with Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich at the beginning of 2005.
As revealed by Legal Week, the firm overhauled its management earlier this year — cutting the number of chief executives from three to two, with Knowles and the US’s Lee Miller remaining as co-chief executives. The third chief executive, Francis Burch, is taking on the global chairman role from George Mitchell.
One partner at the firm told Legal Week: “I would be surprised if anyone ran against Knowles. I think the strategy we have followed of diversifying geographically has served us very well and I am sure quite a few of our UK competitors must be envious. He has come up with the strategy, so why not see it through?”
News that Knowles is planning to stay in his leadership role comes as a number of firms gear up for management changes. Ashurst is seeking a replacement for outgoing senior partner Geoffrey Green, who is set to relocate to Hong Kong next year to launch the firm’s office in the city, while Lovells and Eversheds are also both preparing for management elections.
