Addleshaw Goddard senior partner Charles Penney has been re-elected for a second term, the firm has announced.

Having headed off a late challenge by the firm's employment group head, Michael Leftley, Penney will start his second four-year term on May 1, which will run until April 30, 2023.

Penney – who was first elected senior partner in 2016 – was formerly the firm's head of corporate finance, a role he took up soon after his 2005 move from legacy Lovells, where he was managing partner of the firm's New York office between 1999 and 2002.

Penney will continue to work alongside managing partner John Joyce in steering the firm. He will manage his leadership role alongside his client-facing work. In a statement, the firm said he will "focus on growth across the firm's UK and international markets, including its chosen sectors of digital, energy and utilities, financial services, health and life sciences, industrials, real estate, retail and consumer and transport".

Following Penney's re-election, Joyce said in a statement: "I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with Charles in leading our firm and driving further improvements in our performance and service.

"A contested election creates a healthy environment in which to engage with partners and Michael Leftley has our respect and thanks for his part in that process."