Watson Burton chief stands down ahead of move to Muckle
Watson Burton senior partner Robert Langley has resigned from the firm’s partnership ahead of a move to North East rivals Muckle.
Langley (pictured), who has been in the top role for the past three years, said the decision was amicable.
He has not set a timeline for his departure and said he will stay on after his replacement has been appointed
He told The Lawyer: “The last three years have been about consolidation, now someone has to come in with the ideas and vision to take things forward.”
He added: “This has been a front stage role and I didn’t really want to go back into the chorus. Muckle’s a similar firm to ours, with very nice people, and will be like a home from home for me.”
Langley will focus on construction and commercial litigation when he eventually takes up his position at Muckle.
The news comes after the firm’s LLP accounts revealed its highest-paid partner’s profit share dropped 71 per cent in 2008-09, while fee income fell from £23m to £19.8m (29 March 2009).
Readers' comments (7)
Anonymous | 2-Apr-2010 4:20 pm
Out of the frying pan into the fire. Can Captain Bob sink two ships in one year ??
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Jones | 4-Apr-2010 0:23 am
This is very sad news for Watson Burton; I hope they can find someone who can help them become the firm they should be.
It is excellent news for Muckle who have assumed the mantle (formerly held by Dickinson Dees) as the law firm who businesses contact as a default approach.
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Anonymous | 4-Apr-2010 1:18 am
His comments make it sound like he was asked to leave. This is a shame as he did a lot to benefit the firm. Shame to see you go.
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Anonymous | 5-Apr-2010 11:06 am
Good move by Muckle. WB might as well turn off the lights now.
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Anonymous | 6-Apr-2010 12:14 pm
That is a real shame for WB. Rob Langley is a great lawyer and a great catch for Muckles. Good luck to them. WB have certainly struggled with a huge number of partner departures in recent years (including all of the old management team of Hoyle, Henderson and now Langley). What on earth is going on? I hope they sort things out as they are a good firm.
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Anonymous | 7-Apr-2010 6:49 pm
Well the way they run the company I am not at all surprised. However, was HE the best advert for leadership? All at WB are as bad as each other.
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Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 10:57 am
A very nice man and a very good lawyer; I hope the others at WB know what they are losing.
Muckle making a major shift in their persona over the last few years, and pretty much all for the good. Langley will attract good work to the firm.
Interesting that WB don't seem to use garden leave in these circumstances;- perhaps they know they can't secure the work after he has gone.
Is a meteoric rise at WB in the hoyle era to be followed by a crashing fall?
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