Slaughter and May has named a successor to managing partner Deborah Finkler.

David Johnson is set to take the helm of the storied UK firm on 1 August from Finkler, who became its first managing partner in 2022 as part of a shake-up of its management structure to be more modern.   

Johnson has been a partner at Slaughters since 2000, having joined as a trainee in 1991. 

His practice focuses on public and private M&A for a roster of blue chip clients including Segro, GSK and IAG. He also acted for BHP on its proposed offer for mining rival Anglo American, which ground to a halt last year over BHP’s plans to sell some of Anglo’s interests in South Africa. 

Johnson, who will continue in full-time fee-earning work until he takes up his new role, said in a statement that it was a “privilege” to be named Slaughters’ managing partner.  

“I am looking forward to building on the work that Deborah has done to deliver the strategic aims of the firm and ensure that clients are at the centre of everything we do,” he added.   

Finkler, who has been a partner at Slaughters since 1991 and previously led its disputes practice, will retire from the partnership at the end of July. 

She has been recognised as a leading legal figure in the field of banking and commercial litigation and regulatory investigation, while Slaughters said that as managing partner she had played a key role in supporting the firm’s development in sustainability, technology and energy transition. 

The firm added that she had spearheaded its commitment to set social mobility targets, making Slaughters the first major law firm to do so, and championed female talent across the firm.

Finkler took the helm as managing partner after Slaughters axed the long-standing roles of practice partner and executive partner in 2022 following the planned retirements of David Wittmann and Paul Stacey at the end of their respective terms. 

The firm said at the time that the move was intended to be a shift towards a more contemporary model as a response to a “growth in responsibilities” of the executive function.

The managing partner role took on the functions of the practice partner position and the strategic elements of the executive partner role, while the firm hired former Freshfields chief operating officer Jill Hoseason in 2022 as its first COO to handle the operational aspects of the executive partner’s role. 

The leadership changes also saw former M&A head Roland Turnill elected in 2021 to succeed Steve Cooke as senior partner, with Turnill taking up the post last May at the end of Cooke’s term. 

Commenting on Johnson’s election, Turnill said: “David is a long-standing partner of the firm and has amassed a wealth of experience during his career. His energy and strategic approach are greatly valued, and I look forward to working with him. 

“I would like to thank Deborah for her outstanding contribution to the firm, first in the disputes practice including as practice stream head, and latterly as our first managing partner.”

Finkler commented: “I have enormously enjoyed the challenges of being Slaughter and May’s first managing partner, shaping the role and ensuring the firm is in the best possible position to deliver the highest quality legal services to our clients and remain an attractive and rewarding place to work. I am proud of what has been achieved in that time. I know I leave it in good hands and wish David every success.”