HSF has confirmed that it will be phasing out its joint CEO management structure by 1 May 2017, with current co-chief Mark Rigotti tipped to take over as the firm’s sole CEO. The decision to revert to a single CEO comes four years after the 2012 merger between legacy firms Herbert Smith and Freehills. Former legacy Freehills lawyer Mr Rigotti took the reins of the firm alongside fellow co-chief and former legacy Herbert Smith lawyer Sonya Leydecker in May 2014 when former joint CEOs David Willis and Gavin Bell stood down.
Moving beyond integration
However, Ms Leydecker appears set to lose out in the management restructure as the HSF global partnership council prepares to recommend Mr Rigotti for the role of sole CEO. Sources have confirmed that the firm’s global partnership council plans to hold an uncontested ratification vote on Mr Rigotti’s appointment before the end of this year. A spokesperson for HSF commented that the move to a sole CEO structure ‘underlines the strength of the firm following our merger and the move from the integration phase to the confirmed implementation of our strategy.’
Sources: Legal Business; Legal Week
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