Litigation partner Steve Immelt has been appointed chief executive of global law firm Hogan Lovells.
Immelt’s appointment was confirmed by a partner vote which closed on 16 December.
He will take over from current co-CEOs Warren Gorrell and David Harris on 1 July 2014 and be supported by London finance partner David Hudd as deputy CEO. Their terms of office are four years.
Gorrell and Harris decided earlier this year not to stand again and concluded that the middle of next year would be the right time for a new management team to take the reins. Harris will be retiring from the firm while Warren will be continuing to focus on clients after 30 June 2014.
Immelt (pictured) has a long track record in the management of the firm, including having played a role in its international expansion and the creation of Hogan Lovells in 2010. He is currently a member of the firm's international management committee and global co-head of its litigation, arbitration and employment practice with London partner Michael Davison.
Hudd currently heads the global finance practice and helped develop the firm's leading structured finance practice. Before joining the firm as a partner in 1994, he spent almost ten years in investment banking both as a lawyer and as head of structured finance.
Nicholas Cheffings, Hogan Lovells' chair, says: "Steve is the obvious choice. He is a clear and strategic thinker with a wide knowledge of the firm. His approach to leadership is based on teamwork and inclusion. He is committed to the firm's focus on client service and on good citizenship. He was a key part of the management team involved in the creation of Hogan Lovells and has a very good sense of what it takes to manage a law firm of this size and scope. The board was unanimous in recommending him to the partnership for the role.
"David Hudd has the experience and qualities to be an excellent deputy. He is very focused on results and client service and has a strong reputation for getting things done.
"Both David Harris and Warren will remain active in their roles up to the end of June and we are immensely grateful to them both for all that they have done for the firm."
Immelt says: "The firm is in a very strong position, our best ever. It will be a privilege to succeed David and Warren. We are recognized as one of the world's leading law firms with unique strengths in many practices and industry sectors, a focus on understanding our clients' business needs; and providing creative insight and practical solutions across our geographic reach. We have delivered a strong track record of winning client work across many of our markets under tough conditions. I am looking forward very much to continuing to work with David and Warren as we move towards 1 July."
