Mr Rawlinson will step up to replace incumbent global chair Eduardo Leite in October this year after beating three fellow candidates in the race for the top post – EMEA chair Gary Senior, Latin America chair Claudia Prado and Paris managing partner Eric Lasry. Mr Rawlinson will be stepping up from his current post as London managing partner, which he has held since 2013.

Decades with Bakers

Mr Rawlinson’s career with Baker & McKenzie has spanned almost three decades. He joined the firm in 1986 and was promoted to its partnership 10 years later. An intellectual property lawyer, Mr Rawlinson headed Baker & McKenzie’s global IP group between 2004 and 2010 before rising to the role of London managing partner three years ago. Baker & McKenzie’s London turnover has grown 9 per cent to £145m during his tenure as managing partner. He also played a key role in establishing the firm’s service centres in Belfast and Manila.