STACEY, Paul (004)-Article-201611100515-Article-201611100518

Slaughter and May has elected finance partner Paul Stacey as the magic circle firm's executive partner for a five-year term.

Stacey, whose term will start on 1 May next year, will succeed disputes partner Richard Clark, who is retiring at the end of April after a four-year term.

At the same time, the firm has confirmed that David Wittmann has been re-elected as practice partner for a five-year term, also running from May.

Stacey joined Slaughters as a trainee solicitor in 1981 and made partner in 1990. He has a broad finance and projects practice with an emphasis on work in the power sector, both in the UK and internationally. He previously headed the firm's finance practice and served on the partnership board between 2011 and 2014.

As executive partner, Stacey will be responsible for the firm's overall management strategy including people, finance, technology and compliance.  He will work closely with senior partner Steve Cooke and Wittmann.

Cooke said: "Paul is a hugely talented practitioner who has already made a significant contribution to the success of the firm. He will bring much experience, vision and energy to the role."

Stacey added: "It is an immense privilege to have been elected executive partner.  There are many special aspects to the way in which our practice operates and I look forward to preserving and promoting these, working with our exceptionally talented team."

Commenting on Clark's retirement, which comes after nearly 35 years at the firm, Cooke said: "Richard joined the firm on the same day as me in 1982.  As well as being a good friend, he has been an outstanding executive partner and also one of the longest-serving members of our partnership board. He will be greatly missed after a long and extremely successful career with the firm."

Stacey's election as executive partner follows other management changes at Slaughters.

Steve Cooke, the firm's formery head of M&A, was elected senior partner in January, while Wittmann took over as practice partner at the beginning of 2015 from Paul Olney.