Mr Heylen will be replacing incumbent City managing partner Lord Tim Clement-Jones, who is stepping down at the end of this year after six years of steering the firm’s London operations. The Liberal Democrat peer first joined DLA Piper in 1999 after serving as legal director for home retailer Kingfisher, spending the next decade as co-chair of the firm’s government relations practice. A statement from DLA Piper UK managing partner Sandra Wallace praised Lord Clement-Jones for having ‘driven the public face of DLA Piper in the City’ during his time as leader. Lord Clement-Jones will remain a partner in the firm’s international trade, regulatory affairs and government affairs practice after stepping down.

Teamwork, talent and diversity

Lord Clement-Jones’ successor Tom Heylen has served as an elected board member at DLA Piper for the last four years. A specialist in corporate M&A and private equity work, Mr Heylen carries a book of business that includes clients like Amazon, Sun Capital, Lendlease and Jones Lang LaSalle. Of his new appointment, he commented: ‘My primary focus will be promoting collaboration and teamwork, not only within the London office but between London and the rest of the world. We must ensure that we continuously improve the level of service we give our clients… Recruiting and developing talent and promoting diversity will be a crucial part of this.’ Mr Heylen will assume his new post in January.

Sources: Legal Week; Legal Business