Hogan Lovells makes big changes to get bigger results

Hogan Lovells makes big changes to get bigger results

Fresh leadership changes have been announced with several appointments to the firm's international management committee and board

Hogan Lovells has announced several new appointments to its international management committee (IMC) and board to further consolidate its corporate and finance practice.

José María Balañá, the firm's regional managing partners for (Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) steps up to the firm's IMC, replacing Marie-Aimée de Dampierre who will take over as chair of the firm at the start of May.

Balañá is joined by corporate and finance practice group leader James Doyle, replacing David Gibbons who returns full time to the corporate and finance practice.

"Our practice group leaders and regional managing partners play a crucial role in ensuring that our firm is making good progress on our strategic priorities. As a global law firm that is known for high-value complex transactional work, particularly in highly-regulated sectors, our corporate and finance practice is a central engine of the firm. James and David will bring new ideas and will draw upon their knowledge of our clients to take our corporate and finance practice to even greater heights," Miguel Zaldivar, CEO of Hogan Lovells, said.

Hogan Lovells has also made two new appointments to its board, as well as re-electing ESG practice leader Adrian Walker to the London seat.

Lillian Hardy, head of Hogan Lovells' global crisis management practice, has been elected in Washington DC, replacing Cate Stetson who has completed two terms, while Dusseldorf-based patent litigator Andreas von Falck has been elected to the 'at large' seat, replacing Clay James who is retiring and leaves the firm at the end of April.

Hogan and Lovells has created two new roles to support Balañá and Doyle while they serve on the IMC. David Bonser has been named managing partner of the corporate practice, working alongside Doyle, while Sébastien Gros has been named regional administrative partner for EMEA, supporting Balañá.

According to Zaldivar, EMEA region is critical to Hogan Lovells' success since some of the firm's largest and most successful offices are based in the EMEA region, particularly in London, Germany and Paris.

"I have worked closely with José María Balañá for many years – he brings laser sharp focus and boundless energy to the regional managing partner role," Zaldivar added.

Under Zaldivar, Hogan and Lovells had earlier unveiled a major shake-up of the firm's structure in a bid to simplify its governance and speed up decision making. The present shakeup is seen as part of that very process announced in April last year.