Top 25 UK law firm Addleshaw Goddard (AG) has elected Aster Crawshaw, a partner in its professional practices group, as its next senior partner. 

London-based Crawshaw will take over the role on 1 May from Charles Penney following the end of his second term as senior partner. 

Addleshaws’ managing partner, John Joyce, said: "Charles has our huge thanks for his contribution to our firm particularly in his focus on two things which remain core to our business – our people and our clients. Aster is hugely respected and I have been delighted to have worked with him in recent years on some of our most successful projects. I am looking forward to working even more closely with him to establish AG as a destination firm for great clients and the very best people."

Crawshaw joined the firm as a partner back in 2007 having previously been an associate director in EY’s legal team. Earlier he was an associate in the corporate teams at legacy firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and Linklaters. 

At AG he advises professional services firms on international structures, M&A, partnership agreements and partner disputes. He predominantly works with law firms and accounting firms, but also advises financial services sector clients including hedge funds and private equity houses. 

The firm said that alongside his practice Crawshaw has been involved in many aspects of its growth, including its international preferred firm network Global Connect. 

His election to senior partner follows a busy year for AG that has seen the firm launch in Dublin through a merger with leading local firm Eugene F Collins and open offices in Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Munich. 

At the same time the firm scaled back its presence in Asia, shuttering its 36-strong Hong Kong office last September after deciding it couldn’t ‘economically justify’ renewing the lease on its space there given the ‘unique set of challenges’ it faced in the city. 

Last summer the firm reported its ninth consecutive year of revenue growth, with income rising 18% to £321m during FY21/22. Profit per equity partner (PEP) edged up by 2% to £866k, a sharp decrease from the 23% rise the year before that was likely due to to the rapid expansion of its partner ranks over the financial year, the tally having jumped by 15% to 348.

AG said that as senior partner Crawshaw will focus on driving growth across its markets in the UK, Continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with a focus on its key sectors of energy and utilities, financial services, health, real estate, retail & consumer and transport. 

"It will be a privilege to take on such a key role in the firm and I would like to thank Charles for his exceptional service to AG over the last seven years,” Crawshaw said. “It is an exciting time for AG, and the continued focus on our growth, our brand and our culture will be key priorities for me as senior partner. I can't wait to get started."

Penney will continue to work as a transactional lawyer in AG's corporate practice after stepping down as senior partner at the end of April and will also continue to build the firm's profile in the City and its relationships with FTSE 100 companies, 48 of which the firm currently counts as clients.