Trio of partners prepare to battle for Herbies senior partner role
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Herbert Smith’s CIS head has joined the race to become the firm’s next senior partner, meaning three candidates will now fight it out for the role.
Allen Hanen, who is currently managing partner of the CIS practice, will go up against litigation partner Tim Parkes and competition partner Jonathan Scott to succeed incumbent David Gold (pictured). Nominations have now closed.
Hanen is a US-qualified partner and M&A specialist who joined Herbert Smith in 1999 following a career at Davis Polk & Wardwell and JPMorgan.
Given the suggestion that the role this time round could go to a corporate partner, he could be in with an advantage (5 October 2009).
In contrast Parkes is a litigator like Gold, but also has experience as former executive partner and managing partner of the Asia business, while Scott used to run the competition practice.
But a source with knowledge of the process argued that it was a “very open fight,” adding, “I don’t think there’s any clear candidate, it could go any way.”
The three candidates are currently putting together their manifestos in anticipation of a partner meeting later this month. Partners will vote on the matter in December and the outcome will be announced just before Christmas.
As revealed by The Lawyer earlier this year, Gold decided not to seek a second term as senior partner, clearing the way for a contest to find his successor (15 June 2009).
Elections for the posts of corporate, finance and litigation practice heads, which are currently held by Michael Walter, Jason Fox and Sonya Leydecker, will be held in the new year.
Hanen declined to comment. Parkes and Scott were unavailable.
Readers' comments (6)
Boy George | 13-Nov-2009 3:21 pm
Herbies is such an old school outfit, can't imagine them allowing a US partner currently based overseas to run things.
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Anonymous | 13-Nov-2009 3:49 pm
"Herbies is such an old school outfit, can't imagine them allowing a US partner currently based overseas to run things."
Herbert Smith has an extensive international network and for some time has been one of the more progressive firms in the City
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Insider | 13-Nov-2009 5:34 pm
There is no way on earth Hanen will get it.
Parkes has many friends within the partnership, more than Scott. However, those wishing for a strong hand on cost constraint may well back Scott.
International network? Hardly and not compared to the magic circle. No US office, no German office and nothing in Eatern Europe other than Russia.
Still a very traditional firm - and that's probably a selling point
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CynicalSandra | 16-Nov-2009 1:29 am
Moscow head to senior partner?
Didn't work too well for White & Case.
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Baz | 17-Nov-2009 5:07 pm
There's little to reccomend any of the contenders. What the firm needs is fresh blood and someone to break with the stale old approach. It says a lot about the partnership that it can't muster a more formidable list of names than this particular group.
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mary | 20-Nov-2009 10:46 am
Who are these guys? not sure any of them have what it takes to do this job. Gold has made the role his own and will be a really hard act to follow. although he may not be particularly well liked within the firm he has certainly done a good job. and he is respected. With Willis proving popular as managing partner, whoever wins this election will have a very big job on their hands.
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