Mr Kon has confirmed that he will relinquish control of the firm’s EUME arm by the end of October and return to a fee-earning position at KWM. In a statement announcing his resignation, Mr Kon said that while he remains ‘fully committed’ to KWM, recent changes at the firm require fresh blood at the helm: ‘I strongly believe that it is in the best interest of the firm to put in place a new leadership team at this time, to drive the business forward and to draw the full benefits of recent changes we’ve made to strengthen the firm in the EUME,’ he said.
Troubled times
Joining legacy firm SJ Berwin in 1982, Mr Kon was a key figure in his firm’s merger with King & Wood Mallesons in 2013. He has presided over considerable turbulence at the firm over the last few years, including a major partnership restructuring in March that saw 24 partners leave, a £14m cash call to partners and an extension of the firm’s loan facility with Barclays.
Leadership election
KWM will kick-off the race to select its new EUME senior partner on 12 September, with a successor to be announced between the 19 and 27 October. Mr Kon will stay in his post until a new senior partner is chosen, at which time the successful candidate will take over immediately. The contest for senior partner will coincide with elections for KWM’s new managing partner, which have been delayed since the resignation of former managing partner William Boss at the beginning of the year.
Sources: The Lawyer; Legal Business
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
