DLA Piper's Darwin moves to Sydney

Darwin will officially begin his new role as Australia managing partner in March and is expected to stay in the country for two years, at which point he will root out a successor. Darwin was made UK managing partner in April 2012, when he replaced David Bradley, who returned to fee earning. Darwin, who sits on DLA Piper’s global board, was also made chief operating officer in 2012, a role that he will carry with him when he moves to Australia.

Darwin, who will relocate to DLA Piper’s Sydney office, is replacing current Australia managing partner Tony Holland, who will become chairman. Darwin will also work alongside Asia Pacific managing partner Bob Charlton.

DLA Piper and its Australian arm, DLA Phillips Fox, merged in 2011 (28 February 2011). It is thought that DLA Piper has asked Darwin, who has been with the firm since 1981, to relocate to Sydney to help bring the Australian offices into step with the rest of the firm.

DLA Piper is now looking to appoint someone to replace Darwin as UK managing partner and will announce its choice in the coming weeks.

A spokesperson for DLA Piper said in a statement: “Andrew Darwin has been appointed as Australian managing partner.”