SJ Berwin managing partner Ralph Cohen has announced his intention to step down from his role as the firm reaches the advanced stages of merger talks with Proskauer Rose.

He will remain with the firm as a partner in the EU and competition department, although the exact details of his move, including his last day as managing partner, are yet to decided on.

The firm will finalise the details in September when it will also set out the timetable to elect a new managing partner.

SJ Berwin is currently in merger discussions with US firm Proskauer Rose about a transatlantic tie-up which is likely to affect the firm's management structure, although any decision on what that structure could look like has not yet been taken.

Commenting on his decision, Cohen said: "I have recently told the firm that I will step down as managing partner in the autumn and go back to practising in the EU and competition department. After almost eight and a half years as managing partner I think it will be good to get back into practice."

"It is something that I have been thinking about for some time and this is a good time to do it, especially since we have seen a significant improvement in markets in the first part of this year."

"The merger discussions are ongoing, but irrespective of either outcome I have come to the view that I am going back to practice. [The management structure following a potential merger] is all part of the ongoing discussion at the moment."

Jonathan Blake will remain as the firm's senior partner.

Cohen and Blake were both reappointed to their roles for a three-year term from 1 May 2009 after no one came forward to contest them.

Cohen has been managing partner since 2002 but took on a beefed-up role after standing against Blake for the senior partner post in 2005 when the firm was looking for a replacement for longstanding senior partner David Harrel.

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