Latham & Watkins chair and managing partner Bill Voge has resigned from the firm after admitting to "communications of a sexual nature", behaviour that Latham's executive committee deemed to be "not befitting the leader of the firm".

In a statement, the firm said that Voge – who is based in the US firm's London office – had tendered his resignation after making a series of voluntary disclosures to the firm's executive committee.

"Voge's conduct involved the exchange of communications of a sexual nature with a woman whom he has never met in person and who had no connection to the firm," Latham's statement said. "Voge's conduct did not involve the firm, any of its clients, or its personnel. Voge engaged in subsequent conduct relating to this matter that, while not unlawful, the executive committee concluded was not befitting the leader of the firm."

In a personal statement, Voge, who joined Latham in 1983, added: "It is with great sorrow that I step down as chair and managing partner of Latham & Watkins. I made a personal mistake for which I bear considerable fault and humiliation. I deeply regret my lapse of judgement and I am sorry for the distress and embarrassment I have caused my family, friends, and colleagues.

"My conduct falls well below the personal and professional standards I have tried to uphold throughout my entire career. My disappointment in myself is all the more acute because this lapse does not represent who I am and what I believe, and because I have let down our firm and its people, all of whom I so deeply cherish and respect."

Latham's executive committee decided that these "lapses in personal judgement" made Voge's continued service as chair untenable, and accepted his resignation. Vice-chairs Ora Fisher and Richard Trobman will take interim responsibility as co-chairs of the firm while a replacement is decided on.

The firm added that "in light of the personal and privacy interests involved", it would not provide further comment on the matter.

Project finance partner Bill Voge has led the US firm as global chair and managing partner since 1 January 2015, after being elected as successor to long-serving leader Bob Dell, an appointment that made him the firm's first new leader for 20 years. He took the role after a run-off vote against Los Angeles partner and vice-chair of the firm's US finance practice, Jeff Greenberg.

It is understood that his pitch to partners included the pledge that he would stand for one single five-year term, before passing the reins to a more junior partner.

He also previously held a number of other leadership positions, including two terms on the executive committee. He also enjoyed a spell as global chair of the finance department and global co-chair of the project finance practice.

A dual-qualified lawyer, he also spearheaded the development of Latham's global strategy and office launches, particularly in the Middle East and London.

Latham recently became the world's first law firm to exceed $3bn in annual revenue, boosting revenues by 8.5% to $3.064bn, with profits per equity partner growing 6% to $3.25m.

Allegations of misconduct have emerged at a number of major law firms in recent months, as more and more women come forward to report examples of inappropriate behaviour.

Herbert Smith Freehills recently confirmed that it was firing an Australian partner following an investigation into several allegations of sexual harassment made against him. Multiple Australian media outlets identified the partner in question as Sydney-based Asia-Pacific projects head Peter Paradise.

Last month, Baker McKenzie began a review of its response to a historic sexual assault allegation involving a senior partner, who was alleged to have assaulted a female associate several years ago. The partner in question has since left Bakers, while the associate received a payout, entered into a confidentiality agreement and also left the firm.

Separately, Mayer Brown New York partner James Tanenbaum left the firm earlier this month, just a week after joining from Morrison & Foerster, following allegations that he engaged in inappropriate conduct at his previous firm.

Last month, a former Linklaters Germany partner was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for sexual assault, while Dentons also recently ousted a partner after learning of allegations made against him while he was at Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens, which merged with Dentons last year.

Last year, Legal Week research found that nearly two thirds of female lawyers have experienced some form of sexual harassment while working at a law firm, with more than half experiencing it on more than one occasion. A number of female lawyers also spoke anonymously to Legal Week about their experiences of sexual harassment in the profession, following the research.