Litigation heavyweight Mr Crossley served two back-to-back terms as managing partner of legacy firm Hammonds before its 2011 merger with US outfit Squire Sanders & Dempsey and was re-elected as the newly merged firm’s European boss in 2013. He played in instrumental role in its subsequent merger with Washington DC-based public policy and lobbying firm Patton Boggs the following year. Now, the longtime leader has confirmed that he will be handing over the reins to a new leader at the end of 2016, though he will stay on as a partner at the firm.

Leadership elections

A statement from SPB has indicated that the firm will pick a successor for Mr Crossley ‘over the course of the next couple of months.’ According to Legal Business, two likely frontrunners have already been identified for the upcoming leadership race – London managing partner Robert Weekes and EMEA global corporate chair Jane Haxby. The firm has declined to comment on the timing on the upcoming elections.

Sources: Legal Week; Legal Business