Duo compete for Herbert Smith top job as Parkes withdraws from race

Herbert Smith's decision on a successor for senior partner David Gold has moved a step close after disputes partner Tim Parkes withdrew from the election race.

Parkes' departure from the process comes after he received the fewest votes from the partnership in the first round of elections, which closed last week (11 December).

Competition partner Jonathan Scott and Moscow managing partner Allen Hanen will now battle it out in the second round of voting.

The successful candidate is expected to be announced at the end of this week (18 December).

As previously reported by Legal Week, Gold, who has held the senior partner post since 2005, told the firm in October that he did not intend to run for a second term in office. Had the 58-year-old Gold decided to stand for another term, the firm would have had to change its constitution, which currently states that partners should retire at 60.

Gold's five-year stint in the role will now formally close at the end of April, with the successful candidate expected to work closely with Gold until that point. Gold has yet to make a decision about whether or not he plans to remain with the firm in some other capacity.

Herbert Smith is also set to select new leaders for its corporate, dispute resolution and finance divisions in the New Year.

Herbert Smith on the Legal Week Wiki