DLA Piper has announced today its two new UK managing partners as a result of a comprehensive firm review across Europe and Asia.
The UK’s two-head system will be filled by Catherine Usher as the London office’s managing partner, while Paul Firth will manage all the UK offices, oveseeing 350 partners. The changes will become effective on 1st January.
Up until now, one managing partner, Andrew Darwin, oversaw DLA’s UK operations. He will become managing director for Europe, currently Steven De Keyser’s role.
Musical chairs continue lower down DLA’s management chain as a result of the changes. Firth was formerly managing partner for Sheffield. His replacement is Stephen Sly.
In Manchester, Roy Beckett steps down from heading the office to continue his real-estate practice and Simon Woolley will take over his job as managing partner.
The firm is also looking for a new chief operating officer and has instructed headhunters to hire an external candidate, hopefully by the new year when the management changes are rolled out.
