DLA Piper extends Simon Levine’s term as Managing Partner

Following a vote that demonstrated the overwhelming support of the DLA Piper International partnership, Simon Levine’s term as Managing Partner has been extended by two years until 31 December 2024. The extension comes following a recommendation from the firm’s International Board to ensure stability and certainty of leadership during these uncertain times.

Under the firm’s Members’ Agreement, Managing Partners have a two, four-year term limit, with Simon’s second term due to end on 31 December 2022. The Board recommended the extension to 31 December 2024 on the basis that it would provide surety for the International firm and its people and clients in the medium term. The extension also aligns Simon’s term with that of Frank Ryan, the firm’s new Americas Chair, Global Co-CEO and Global Co-Chair who began his first term in January 2021.

During the seven years Simon has been in the role, he has performed highly effectively as Managing Partner, resetting the firm’s strategy, developing its culture and values and providing personal leadership to DLA Piper’s Law& agenda, and its ambitious approach to both diversity and inclusion and sustainability and ESG.

Andrew Darwin, Senior Partner and Global Co-Chair at DLA Piper said: “We are in exceptional times with significant change ahead both for us as a firm and for the clients we serve. We felt strongly that by extending Simon’s leadership until 2024, we would be best placed to manage the challenges caused by the pandemic, while also ensuring the strategic objectives of the firm are met. We have been on an incredible journey under Simon’s leadership and with the business in robust and resilient shape, are well positioned to help our clients succeed through the unsettling times before us and the road ahead.”

Simon became DLA Piper’s International Managing Partner and Global Co-CEO in January 2015 and was re-elected by the partnership for a second term which began in January 2018.