Can Angel repeat his Links success at DLA Piper?
News that former Linklaters chief Tony Angel is set to join DLA Piper as senior partner sent shockwaves through the market when it was revealed on TheLawyer.com last week (26 October).
Tony Angel
But opinion is split over whether Angel’s presence can radically transform DLA Piper or whether the move represents a trophy hire for the rapidly growing firm.
“It’s a signature hire, but I’m not sure what’s in it for either of them,” said one firm leader. “Angel was successful at Linklaters, but he’s since moved on and the legal profession’s gone through a lot of change since then.
“In a way DLA Piper is more of a global business than Linklaters ever was, so I’m not sure what experience he’ll bring.”
That said, Tony Williams, principal at Jomati Consultants and a former Clifford Chance managing partner who went on to run Anderson Legal in 2000, sees sense in the move.
“Tony did a good job at Linklaters; he gave them clear goals and ambitions,” Williams said. “I think it’s much more than a nominal role he’s been given, and the timing’s good too. There’s much more scope to reposition a firm in a flat market than in a bull market.”
A recruiter close to DLA Piper agreed, saying: “I think Tony’s hire will attract some big names, but it’s difficult to see how one man can transform a firm.”
Angel, who is believed to have been offered around £2m a year to join the firm, will begin at DLA Piper in early November following a two-week voting period.
DLA Piper declined to comment.
Readers' comments (7)
The Bl**ding Obvious | 31-Oct-2011 9:30 am
"I’m not sure what’s in it for either of them,” said one firm leader."
....er, the money?
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Anonymous | 31-Oct-2011 9:38 am
I don't think DLA are looking for Angel to repeat his work at Linklaters.
He's clearly a talented man who understands the strategic steps required to succeed in the legal market.
Most of the criticism of DLA centres on them being too new - by taking on a senior figure from a magic circle firm they're buying in that old school expertise.
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jim hill | 31-Oct-2011 9:44 am
From the looks of the article, this will not be affecting the American arm of DLA.
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Anonymous | 31-Oct-2011 2:52 pm
They are hoping to borrow Angel's experience to cut down costs and make DLA a success story. I don't know how it's going to work out. DLA Piper has been "doubling down" recently and making tons of promises to new lateral partners coming in. They seem to be expanding way too rapidly for their own good. I think DLA anticipates a new global recovery and hope to expand alongside it. However, if the economy goes bad (which increasingly looks likely), then DLA will be left holding the bag on these "investments" and will stand to lose a lot of money.
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Anonymous | 31-Oct-2011 2:59 pm
This article presupposes that DLA needs transforming, which seems to suggest that Knowles & co have not been as successful as they are usually boasting they are.....
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Anonymous | 31-Oct-2011 11:13 pm
We are all now seriously bored of DLA and its stories of success, its stories of failure, how it may or may not be full of crap laawyers, its gigantic pay packets to ex linklaters partners, its bad treatment of employees, its PR savvy Knowles. In fact all things DLA have become dull, Perhaps it time to change the music.
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Anonymous | 1-Nov-2011 12:28 pm
Tony Angel is certainly a talented man but not a miracle worker. I expect he will do well because of his clear thinking.
On the other hand, one could argue that he took the UKs number two firm and turned it into the UKs number three firm, destroying half a dozen continental practices along the way.
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