British duo to head up LeBoeufs

US firm LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae's London managing partner has stepped down to make way for a joint leadership by two of the firm's British partners.

Energy partners Garry Pegg and Alan Jones will become joint managing partners on 1 April, replacing US partner Jeff Johnson, who set up LeBoeufs' London multinational partnership four years ago.

Johnson will retain his position of senior partner and intends to concentrate on leading the firm's insurance department.

Johnson says: "I could not be happier about the appointments. It shows that US management is confident enough to hand over responsibility to British partners."

He adds: "When a US firm sets up in the UK there is a tendency to keep a US person in charge, which shows a lack of confidence."

Pegg says the firm is expanding into Beijing after being granted a licence to practise in China. The office will be headed by Jim Woods, a partner from LeBoeufs in San Francisco.

Pegg also says the London office will be appointing a number of new employees, although details are not yet available.