Lovells senior partner race opens up as MacDonagh rules out bid

Lovells managing partner Lesley MacDonagh has rejected an approach by a group of partners to stand for senior partner in this year's elections.
MacDonagh, who still has two years of her managing partner term to run, told the partnership last Friday (8 August) that she did not want to switch to the senior partner role.
Two new candidates have emerged for the post: property head Robert Kidby and Brussels competition partner Philip Collins have both put their names forward. Incumbent Andrew Walker and head of corporate Hugh Nineham are also standing.
Insiders view Collins as an outside bet, but Kidby is thought to be a more serious proposition. Although he may be disadvantaged by his property background (the department is less strategically important than corporate), Kidby is nevertheless a high-profile figure and the father of the 'Mexican wave' concept.
MacDonagh's decision was relayed to the partnership by email last Friday morning. She indicated that she wanted to see through her managing partner term, but will definitely not stand again when the post comes up for re-election in two years.
As yet, no partner from Lovells' legacy European merger partners have come forward, despite the fact that there are obvious candidates, including German managing partner Oliver Felsenstein.
Potential candidates have until September to self-nominate. Lovells declined to comment.