Radcliffes to hire new CEO from outside firm

Partners at Radcliffes-LeBrasseur have voted to retain their current management structure and find a new chief executive officer (CEO) externally, after the shock departure of Vincent Denham in August.

At a meeting at the end of September, partners voted to find seek their new CEO from outside the firm. In the meantime, it has appointed an executive committee to oversee the running of the firm.

Senior partner Robert Vallings is chair of the committee, which comprises five other partners, including head of health Simon Dinnick, head of property litigation Andrew Parsons and head of commercial dispute resolution Paul Clements.

Denham, the firm's first chief executive, was originally brought in at the beginning of January to boost the profitability of the firm and oversee the merger between Radcliffes and healthcare practice Le Brasseur J Tickle. A manager but not a lawyer by background, Denham left under a black cloud, with both parties citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the departure.

It has not dulled the firm's belief, though, that a chief executive is what is needed at the helm. "We think that's the right way to go," said Vallings. "We want a professional man to do a professional job."