Frontrunners emerge for Clyde & Co senior partner role
Insurance partner James Burns and disputes partner Simon Konsta are believed to be the frontrunners to lead Clyde & Co when senior partner Michael Payton steps aside next year.
Michael Payton
Sources close to the firm have also suggested that litigation partner Ben Knowles could be another leading candidate.
Payton’s decision to stand down from the senior partner role will bring an end to a 28-year leadership (30 November 2012). Chief executive Peter Hasson leads the management board and will oversee the election process. Payton will become chairman of the firm to manage the transition from November next year.
However, a source close to the firm suggested that although Konsta, who was senior partner at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert prior to that firm’s merger with Clydes, is the “obvious choice”, he may not want to stand.
They said: “James Burns has got to be up there. He must be a frontrunner from the Clydes side. On the BLG side, Kosta has done a version of the job before and in a sense is the most qualified for it and is well-versed now in the politics of the firm.
“He may have reassessed his situation after spending a year focusing more on his own practice.”
The vote for Payton’s replacement will take place on 28 February with candidates announcing their candidature early in the new year.
It follows the news that former Clydes COO David Jabbari has joined Pannone to run its referral network Connect2Law (6 December 1012).
The Lawyer examined the dynamics of Clydes’ management in the wake of last year’s £287m merger (29 October 2012).
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Readers' comments (53)
Borat | 17-Dec-2012 5:47 pm
The comparisons between firms and former empires is too attractive to ignore. What contributed to the fall of the Mongol Empire?
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Anonymous | 17-Dec-2012 5:59 pm
Throughout history, all civilizations rise and fall and the decline is always prefaced by decadence. Where is any law firm on that curve? Any prospective senior partner, or merger partner, would do well to think that through very carefully. For the uninitiated, cultural decay, structural weakness and reliance on finance are the usual warning signs
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Anonymous | 17-Dec-2012 9:24 pm
Clydes desperately needs to be be swallowed up by a much bigger international firm and lop off the low value/UK regional stuff. It was pursuing a highly successful international strategy. This would put it back on track to restore the ground lost by this ill-conceived merger. Herbert Smith is the obvious candidate given the litigation base of both firms. Clydes also desperately need a credible management team. It's now painfully clear that Payton's strength concealed the weakness of all those around him.
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Anonymous | 17-Dec-2012 9:27 pm
Why is no one talking about David Bennett as SP? He is highly respected, and more to the point he is both trusted and liked by partners and associates!
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Anonymous | 18-Dec-2012 10:52 am
Clydes needs to merge, to sort out its idiosyncratic business lines and petty empires and its tolerance of behaviours which are frankly archaic and reminders of a world without securities legislation, accountability to clients or adherence to even the most basic compliance procedures. So much will happen once Payton departs, "Clydes Chambers" ends and Hasson becomes more directly accountable to the partners as a whole.
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Post Temujin | 18-Dec-2012 1:29 pm
In response to Borat, the end of most empires comes about through disunity. So having a clear and common purpose, with teamwork, strong leadership, and the right level of resources will be critical after Michael steps aside.
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Anonymous | 19-Dec-2012 1:15 pm
Anonymous 10.52 - the last thing Clydes needs to do is merge again. On the Insurance side alone the firm looks like a total joke - some clients who use the Northern office must have had 5 Notices of Change in as many years. What they need is stability and to stay out of the legal press for a reasonable period of time. If you look at the main players CC, DLA, A&O, Slaughters - you either don't hear very much at all or only good news - not chaotic claptrap/arms flailing in the air all year long. They are going to implode and destroy themselves the way they are going about it - chill in 2013! Hands off the blogs … keep calm and carry on …
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Exact | 20-Dec-2012 7:26 am
Could be there won't be much choice in the matter come 2014/15 when the economy swings out of favour for Clydes and the post merger exits begin.
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Anonymous | 20-Dec-2012 10:12 am
Fair play to you for speaking out for the clients. So what exactly is in all of this merger fever for us? Not very much at all I'd say. Since when has 'big' ever meant 'quality' or 'service' for clients?
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Some legacy ... | 20-Dec-2012 1:09 pm
According to published numbers, between 2009 and 2012 Clydes grew turnover by 50% whilst PEP declined by 7%. By any standards, that's some growth story! What's the point?
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