SJ Berwin has sealed the appointment of former Dechert London head Steven Fogel as a non-executive director, marking the firm's second non-exec addition to its partnership board.

Real estate specialist Fogel (pictured) is the former senior partner of legacy Titmuss Sainer, which he led into its merger with Dechert in 2000, in one of the first-ever transatlantic law firm tie-ups. He went on to serve as managing partner of the merged firm's City office.

He retired from the Dechert partnership last June to take an of counsel role, and has subsequently joined the board at organisations including the University of London and the Freud Museum, as well as taking a position as chairman of medical device company Uropharma. He was succeeded as Dechert London chief by employment partner Jason Butwick.

The appointment increases the size of SJ Berwin's partnership board to 12. Fogel will sit alongside fellow non-exec director Lucinda Riches, the former UBS banker who joined last year.

SJ Berwin senior partner and board chair Stephen Kon said: "Steven brings great legal insight and commercial acumen to our board. Together with Lucinda, Steven will make an invaluable contribution as we continue to strategically develop and grow our business."

The appointment, which came into effect on 1 January, comes after Riches joined the board in April last year, replacing former Linklaters managing partner Tony Angel, who left his SJ Berwin non-executive director role in November 2011 to become joint global co-global chairman at DLA Piper.

Riches was formerly a board member of UBS Investment Bank and managing director and global head of equity capital markets until 2008.

Last October SJ Berwin reshuffled its partnership board by replacing three members following a firmwide election. Germany IP/IT and commercial chief Stefan Krueger, EU and UK competition partner Elaine Gibson-Bolton and corporate real estate partner Michael Goldberg were elected to join the board and will stay on until 2015.

SJ Berwin partnership board in full

Stephen Kon, senior partner (chair)
Rob Day, managing partner
Hilton Mervis, general member
Stefan Krueger, German member
Michael Goldberg, general member
Tom Usher, general member
Maxence Bloch, French member
Elaine Gibson-Bolton, general member
Lucinda Riches, non-executive director
Steven Fogel, non-executive director
Mike Giles, management seat
Rachel Reid, management seat