DLA Piper has appointed Madrid-based corporate partner Juan Picon to replace Nigel Knowles as its new senior partner and global co-chairman.

Picon is currently DLA’s joint managing director for Europe and the Middle East, a role he has held since 2014. He is also co-chair of its Latin American practice alongside Bob Gruendel.

Juan Picon
Juan Picon

Picon has held a number of high profile roles since he joined the firm in 2006 from legacy Squire Sanders & Dempsey. He initially held the role of country managing partner for Spain before becoming international group head for corporate a year later. In 2012 he joined the executive as joint managing director for groups and sectors.

Global co-CEO Simon Levine said:Juan and I have had a close working relationship ever since we were appointed to the executive in a joint role in 2012. Not only does Juan’s appointment bring a continental European perspective into the firm’s leadership team, he also has a very close working relationship with the Americas, a Latin American practice.”

Last month DLA announced that Nigel Knowles would be stepping down from his roles on 30 April. Knowles has worked at the firm for the last 38 years and will retire as a partner on 30 June. He will continue working as a consultant to the global firm.

Picon will begin working as the firm’s senior partner on 1 May 2016.