Gold triumphs in Herbert Smith election race

Head of litigation David Gold has won the two-way race to become Herbert Smith’s next senior partner, beating practice partner Richard Fleck to the punch.

Gold, who was backed by almost the whole of the litigation department – the firm’s traditional powerhouse – takes office in April. He succeeds Richard Bond for a five-year term.

Gold will spend the next five months consulting the partnership on what form the firm’s management should take.

Currently Herbert Smith has a practice partner, an executive partner and a managing partner for Asia, but may replace the three posts with a more conventional managing partner.