denotes premium content | May 21 2008 
News
posted 6 May 2008
Herbert Smith names managing partner
HERBERT SMITH has appointed corporate partner David Willis to the newly-created role of managing partner following a firm-wide management review.
Willis will now chair the firm’s executive committee and lead the implementation of its strategy. David Gold remains senior partner, and will develop that strategy.
Gold chairs the firm’s LLP Council, of which Willis will also be an ex-officio member, but Willis will report to Gold.
Gold explained: “Herbert Smith is a bigger, more international and more complex organisation than it was when I became senior partner three years ago. It is essential we have a management structure which reflects these factors, the priority we are giving to international growth going forward and the opportunities and challenges we face from the current period of economic uncertainty.”
Willis added: “Strong leadership and management is going to be particularly critical to our success in achieving the ambitious strategic goals developed by David and the global practice heads.”
Willis joined Herbert Smith in 1981 and became a partner in 1989. He was the firm’s managing partner for Asia from 1997 to 2001. His new tenure will initially last until 31 March 2010, coinciding with Gold’s five-year stint in the senior partner role.
In other news, Herbert Smith has also announced a formal and exclusive relationship with the law firm Al Ghazzawi Professional Association (GPA) in Saudi Arabia. Part of the firm’s continuing drive to establish a strong presence in the Middle East, the tie-up follows the opening of a Dubai office in 2007.
