Clifford Chance India chief Wyman retires after 16-month stint with AZB

Clifford Chance Singapore head Geraint Hughes has been named as Wyman’s successor as India group head. Hughes will remain in Singapore for the time being.

Wyman, who joined Clifford Chance in 1979 and made partner in 1986, said he had spent a number of years thinking about the step and his retirement was now already four-and-a-half years behind his original schedule.

He added that, while he would retire from legal practice, he did not intend to stop working completely and was considering several options.

“I’m sure I’ll do something else,” he said. “The standard advice you get is to take a few months before you commit to anything and make sure you get it right.”

Hughes, who also specialises in banking and project finance like Wyman, will take over from Wyman as the firm’s India group head. He made partner at Clifford Chance in 1999, having joined the firm from Slaughter and May.

Wyman said that apart from one short break he had spent 16 months in India with AZB since first moving to the country on secondment in June 2009, which had originally been intended as an open-ended three-month stint to build the two firms’ relationships after their tie-up earlier the same year (8 June 2009).

Speaking about Wyman’s imminent departure, outgoing senior partner Stuart Popham said: “Chris has done a great job for Clifford Chance throughout his over 30 years with the firm, especially in the banking and project finance area and with his long term engagement with matters in India. 

“While, no doubt, Chris will be missed, he leaves behind a large group of very capable and very experienced partners.”

AZB Mumbai co-founding partner Bahram Vakil added: “It was really wonderful having him here, genuinely it was. He’s an amazing guy and I wish him a lot of happiness in his retirement.”

A version of this article first appeared on website LegallyIndia.com.