Fresh at the helm, the firm’s new senior partner Wim Dejonghe and managing partner Andrew Ballheimer want to restructure partner appraisal to include include a broader set of performance criteria, with new emphasis placed on mentoring, cross referrals and pro bono work. Partners at the firm are currently appraised every two years, with an interim session every other year. Widespread concern about Allen & Overy’s existing appraisal system surfaced during the recent management elections held at the firm, with several partners complaining that the criteria used to measure partner performance were too narrow and focused only on contributions made to specialist teams, rather than a partner’s overall contribution to the global practice. Though the precise details of the new performance measures have not yet been disclosed, they will be coherent with the firm’s top strategic priorities – innovation, a focus on clients, and expansion in the US market.
Source: Legal Week
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