RPC has elected financial services litigator Simon Hart as its new senior partner, following a partnership vote.
Hart will take up the role at the start of May for a three-year term. He will succeed current senior partner Oliver Bray, who is stepping down after completing a six-year term, the maximum permitted under RPC’s partnership deed. Hart will support managing partner Antony Sassi and RPC’s leadership team on partnership affairs and lead on firm culture.
Sassi said: “I’m extremely pleased that Simon will be our next senior partner. Culture is at the heart of our strategy – he couldn’t be better placed to bring this to bear for our partnership and the whole firm, and I look forward to working with him.”
Sassi, who was appointed as managing partner last year, replacing James Miller, said: “I would like to thank Olly on behalf of all of us for his commitment and energy over the last six years. With his brilliant contributions, we have become a stronger, more future-facing firm than we’ve ever been.”
Hart has been a partner at RPC for more than a decade and is known for his financial markets disputes work, acting for major clients in banking and commercial litigation, chiefly against major investment banks.
He currently leads the firm’s financial services sector group and its commercial and banking litigation practice, known for its conflicts-free approach. His notable cases include the long-running Federal Republic of Nigeria v JP Morgan litigation. He has also served as the firm’s training principal.
Reflecting on his election, Hart said: “I am really looking forward to supporting the partnership and the wider firm as senior partner. For me, the role is about helping us to be the best partnership we can be, as a firm and, ultimately, for our clients.
“Much of the role is about listening to and understanding the evolving needs of what fuels a high-performing partnership. As with clients, success is founded on fostering long-term trusted relationships.”
Hart confirmed he would continue his practice alongside his new role.
Last month, RPC reported a 3.2% increase in revenue to £175m in its latest accounts, with profit per equity partner reaching £3.4m, an increase of 5.6%.
Bray, who also leads the firm’s technology, media and entertainment sector group, has served as senior partner since 2020, a period in which RPC has grown significantly. During that time, the partnership has expanded from 79 to 136, with revenue rising from £98.9m in 2017 to £172.2m in 2024, a 74% increase.
Both Bray and Sassi, who was previously Asia managing partner, also restructured the firm’s executive board in 2025, alongside sectoral expansion and international boards to drive growth.
The firm recently welcomed two Singapore-based hires – international arbitration partner Ankit Goyal from Allen & Gledhill, who will head the India desk, and technology partner Jeremiah Chew from Norton Rose Fulbright. However, the firm lost rainmaker Jeremy Drew to Taylor Wessing last month.
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