Arnold & Porter global chief steps down for DC bar role

Arnold & Porter's global managing partner James Sandman has stepped down after a decade as head of the Washington DC firm.

Sandman was made Arnold & Porter's managing partner on 10 November 1995 and is currently president-elect of the 82,000-member District of Columbia Bar. He will serve a one-year term as president of the District of Columbia Bar from June, a role which instigated his decision to step down.

Financial services partner Richard Alexander, who spent nine years on the firm's management committee working as Sandman's right-hand man, has taken over as head of DC's third-largest firm.

Alexander helped Sandman implement such initiatives as limiting the partnership ranks and reorganising the compensation and retirement system. He will serve a two-year term after being selected by the firm's policy committee in a decision ratified by the partnership last year.

Sandman will remain a senior partner of Arnold & Porter's mass tort and product liability litigation practice.