Denton Hall managing partner Jonathan Tatten is to step down, sparking a management shake-up at the 120-partner firm.

His decision not to stand for re-election ends a rollercoaster six years for Tatten which saw him unsuccessfully attempt to forge two tripartite mergers.

The move has prompted Dentons' board to propose a new structure, which would see management of the firm divided between one managing partner for the UK and one for the rest of the world.

James Dallas will continue to be senior partner.
It is understood that Tatten was offered the worldwide role, but decided not to continue.

Explaining the proposal to split the roles, Dallas said that, with 14 overseas offices and 1,000 staff, "you need to be very visible if you are going to keep the glue together".

Dallas added that the firm was expecting to add a new member to its Denton International network soon.

The board's proposals will be put to the partnership for approval and elections will then follow, with the whole process likely to be completed by mid-March.

During his tenure as managing partner Tatten argued strongly that Dentons needed to become part of a global law firm to match the increasingly global reach of its clients, particularly those of its energy, projects and telecoms practices.

In a bid to fulfil this goal he led Dentons' negotiators on two ultimately doomed attempts to pull off an ambitious tripartite merger.

He was instrumental in the merger negotiations that led to the creation – following Dentons' withdrawal – of Cameron McKenna two years ago.

And last autumn he led the negotiating team in its discussions with Richards Butler and Theodore Goddard.

Dentons withdrew last October following disagreements over the future of the firm's Hong Kong practice and over who would lead any merged firm.

Commenting on his decision to step down, Tatten said: "Six years as managing partner of Dentons is probably enough and a change would be good for both of us. I am looking forward to a new challenge which I very much hope will be with Denton Hall."

Paying tribute, Dallas said that Tatten had been "a terrific managing partner" who is leaving the firm "in better shape than it has been in a very long time".

Dallas added that Tatten's vision for the firm "remains absolutely intact," adding that firms "are going to have greater resources than we and most firms have".