Addleshaws' litigation chief to challenge Burch in senior partner election

Managing partner Paul Devitt, who is serving a second term following an uncontested election in January (12 January 2012), sent an email to partners yesterday afternoon (15 October) telling them that Kamstra would run against Burch for the senior partner job. The winner of the election will begin their three-year term on 1 May 2013.

Leeds-based Kamstra is a commercial disputes and arbitration specialist and has been with Addleshaws since 1992. He was appointed head of litigation in June (15 May 2012), replacing Richard Leedham, who had been in the role since 2010. Kamstra is also head of international arbitration at Addleshaws, a role he has held since 2007 (1 May 2007).

Burch has been senior partner since 2010, when she won the partnership’s backing following a contested election (31 March 2010). Initially Burch was elected as chairman, but changed the name of the role to senior partner seven months later to avoid confusion (9 December 2010).

In a statement, a spokesperson for Addleshaw Goddard said: “Monica Burch’s current term of office as senior partner will come to an end in 2013. Members of the board have been consulting with partners about that, as part of the normal election process. We intend to make no further comment until the senior partner for the three years commencing 1 May 2013 has been decided.”