Addleshaw Goddard senior partner Charles Penney is facing a challenge to retain his spot at the top.

Penney's three-year tenure ends in May and he is seeking a second term, but will contend for the position with London-based employment partner Michael Leftley, who heads the City firm's employment, incentives and immigration group.

Leftley has been at the firm for 18 years, becoming employment sector head in 2014, soon after managing partner John Joyce was appointed to the firm's top job.

Michael Leftley, Addleshaw Goddard

People close to the firm said that an election has begun and that Leftley is challenging the incumbent.

Leftley also oversees the department's client service teams and counts a number of FTSE 100 companies as his clients. His broad practice encompasses both contentious and non-contentious employment law, with a corporate strategy and reputation specialism.

Penney was first elected as senior partner in 2016, having headed off a challenge from Andrew Carpenter, now a partner at DWF. Penney took up the role of corporate finance head soon after his 2005 move from legacy Lovells, where he was managing partner of the firm's New York office between 1999 and 2002.

City lawyers told Legal Week there had been an industry expectation of a candidate from Leeds or Manchester to reflect the firm's strength in those two cities. 

Last month, the firm announced soaring profits for the year to April 2018, boosted by the firm's 2017 combination with Scottish firm HBJ. UK LLP profits jumped almost £20m from £64m to £83.5m, while global profits climbed to £242m from £197.8m.