Herbert Smith votes in competition specialist as new senior partner

Herbert Smith competition partner Jonathan Scott has been named as the firm's new senior partner after a contested election process.

Scott was announced as the successful candidate today (18 December) - receiving over 50% of the votes - after standing against Moscow managing partner Allen Hanen. Disputes partner Tim Parkes stepped out of the race earlier this week after receiving the fewest votes from the partnership in the first round of elections.

Scott, a highly-regarded competition specialist, made partner at Herbert Smith in 1988 and helped set up the firm's Brussels branch in 1989. He also led the firm's EU and competition practice for eleven years from 1996.

He will now shadow incumbent senior partner David Gold until he takes over the reigns at the beginning of May.

Gold said: "My congratulations go to Jonathan and I wish him well. With Jonathan as senior partner and David Willis as managing partner, the firm will be in very good hands when my term comes to an end."

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 has overseen a period of international expansion at Herbert Smith, including new launches in locations in the Middle East and Spain, while turnover at the firm has risen from £296m to £444m.

He has yet to make a decision about whether or not he plans to remain with the firm in another capacity.

Herbert Smith on the Legal Week Wiki