DLA Piper elects first Russia-based board member

DLA Piper has elected its first Russia-based international board member to fill the void left by Nordic chief Henning Øglænd, who stood down halfway through his term (The Lawyer, 1 September).

Russia and CIS managing partner Constantine Lusignan-Rizhinashvili, won the election among partners, seeing off competition from London partner Matthew Saunders, Abu Dhabi managing partner Stephen Webb and Hamburg partner Klaus von Gierke.

Rizhinashvili said his appointment reflected the increasingly global priorities of the firm, adding: “It outlines the drive by the firm to internationalise its ranks. The non-UK business has been growing very rapidly over the last few years.”

He joins the international board alongside elected members Janet Legrand, Neil McLean and Frans Stibbe, as well as joint CEO Nigel Knowles and appointed members Alastair Da Costa, who heads the Asia practice, and Andrew Darwin, EMEA chief.

DLA Piper has offices in Moscow, St Petersberg, Kiev and Georgia.

The Moscow branch has seen significant expansion this year, taking on two partners from Akin Gump in July and a Russia banking head Vyacheslav Khorovskiy from Allen & Overy in June.