Tony Angel’s 30-year stint at Linklaters officially came to an end this week (30 April), with Angel still to decide on his next move.
Angel spent nearly 10 years as firm-wide managing partner at Linklaters - elected initially in 1998 before being reappointed for a second term in 2003.
He told partners early last year that he would not be standing for a third term, leaving the path clear for Simon Davies to succeed him.
Angel confirmed to Legal Week that he will now be taking some time off to consider his options - with any future posts likely to be outside the law. He said: “ I have had a fantastic time at Linklaters over the years and now I am going to have a bit of a break to spend some time with my wife.”
Angel qualified as a solicitor at Linklaters in 1978, becoming a partner in 1984 and head of tax in 1994.
During his tenure he helped transform the firm into a leading global player and instituted an aggressive drive to boost individual partner performance and align the business around premium work for a tighter group of bluechip clients.
Angel’s departure comes after Allen & Overy senior partner Guy Beringer left his firm last month to take up a non-executive role at investment house Fleming Family & Partners. Meanwhile, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s co-managing partner, Perry Noble, announced last month that he would be retiring from the firm in the autumn.
Click here for a US perspective on Angel's achievements from Legal Week's US sister title The American Lawyer.
