International law firm Lovells has elected John Young, one of the firm’s leading corporate partners, as Senior Partner, as of 1st May 2004. He will succeed Andrew Walker, whose current term of office comes to an end on 30 April 2004. John Young will serve until 30 April 2008
John Young is currently Head of Lovells’ corporate insurance practice. Initially he practised as a corporate transactional lawyer. Since 1991, he has focused on advising on the regulation of insurance business and corporate transactions within the insurance industry. He has advised on many of the most significant deals within the UK insurance industry, as well as advising numerous leading insurance and reinsurance companies on sensitive regulatory issues . Under his leadership Lovells’ corporate insurance team has become widely regarded as the leading UK team in its field and has evolved a significant worldwide reputation.
John has spent the whole of his professional life at Lovells. He was an elected member of the firm’s Partnership Board from 1993-1996 and again from 1998-2001.
The strengthening of Lovells’ extensive corporate practice has been one of the key drivers in establishing the firm’s credentials as a leading player in the international legal market, where it is now ranked sixth internationally by size . The firm’s standing was recently demonstrated when it came first in the “Legal Business 100”, for “an astounding performance? Based on six key indicators of financial performance, Lovells is the best performing firm of 2003.”
John Young was elected on Saturday 15 November 2003, from a slate of three candidates , in a vote at a partners’ meeting in London. It was the final stage in an election process that began in July 2003.
John Young will be Chairman of the firm’s Partnership Council , working closely with Lovells’ Managing Partner Lesley MacDonagh, who has been in the role since 1 May 1995 and is Chairman of the firm’s International Executive . Lesley was re-elected unopposed for a second time in 2001 and is currently due to serve as Managing Partner until 30 April 2006.
Speaking for the Partnership Council, which managed the election process, Walter Klosterfelde, Deputy Senior Partner, said:
“John Young’s election as Senior Partner to succeed Andrew Walker, after an orderly election with three excellent candidates, shows several things. First, that the Partnership is ready to move into a new era in the leadership of the firm. Second, that it is capable of doing so through an admirably civil, thorough and democratic debate. And third, that it wishes to have one of its corporate stars at the helm, in recognition of Lovells’ international status as a leading player in cross border M&A work.
In his long tenure as Senior Partner, Andrew has achieved a huge amount for the firm. With Managing Partner Lesley MacDonagh, he has led us through our dramatic international expansion and into a much stronger market position – a transformation which has been greatly beneficial to our clients, the Partnership and members of the firm. He still has six months to serve, but already deserves our immense gratitude for his enormous contribution in creating the firm we are today.”
John Young will remain Head of Lovells’ corporate insurance practice when he succeeds Andrew Walker on 1 May 2004.
