John Gollaglee appointed DLA Piper North West Office Managing Partner

Global law firm DLA Piper today announces the appointment of John Gollaglee as Office Managing Partner (OMP) for the firm’s North West offices (Manchester and Liverpool), effective 1 May 2025. John succeeds Mark Beardwood, who steps down after six years in the role.

Promoted to partner in 2015, John has built his practice on advising multi-national organisations facing investigations and prosecution of criminal offences arising from commercial activities, including fraud, corruption and health & safety and environmental matters. He has acted on several high-profile and sensitive matters in his career, including representing the arena operator in the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

Mark Beardwood will remain with the firm and continue to focus on his real estate investment and development practice. During his tenure as OMP, he guided our offices in the North West through the COVID crisis and its aftermath, saw the promotion of nine partners and has positioned the Liverpool and Manchester offices as key drivers of success within the global firm.  

Andrew Dyson, UK Country Managing Partner, DLA Piper, commented: “Mark has led our Manchester and Liverpool offices with great success over the last six years, supporting our people with calm assurance through a period that included the pandemic. It has been a pleasure to have Mark in our leadership team. As John enters the role, I am confident that he will continue to develop our offering in the UK and ensure clients benefit from the power of our global platform”.

John Gollaglee, North West Office Managing Partner, DLA Piper, added: “Succeeding Mark as OMP for the North West is an honour and privilege. He has reshaped and redefined our office’s position in the global firm. As I step into the role, I thank the firm for placing their trust in me and Mark for his guidance and support during the transition period”.