Baker McKenzie global chairman Paul Rawlinson has died, the firm has announced.

He died last Friday (12 April), according to a statement from the firm, six months after temporarily stepping down as global chair of the firm following health issues caused by exhaustion.

Rawlinson, an intellectual property lawyer, joined Baker McKenzie in 1986 and made partner at the firm in 1995. He served as a member of Baker McKenzie's London office management committee between 2001 and 2004 and as global chair of its IP practice from 2004 to 2010. In 2013, Rawlinson was named London managing partner, three years before winning the firm's global chairman election.

Bogota-based M&A partner and Latin America chair Jaime Trujillo Caicedo, a member of Baker McKenzie's global executive committee and chair of its financial committee, has served as the firm's acting chair since October.

He will continue in the role until a permanent replacement is appointed.

A statement from the firm said: "It is with great sadness that we convey to you the news of the unexpected passing of Paul Rawlinson, the firm's global chair, on Friday, April 12, 2019. The firm's thoughts are with Paul's wife Alison and their two children, who the firm will be helping through these very difficult times.

"Our thoughts also go out to the very many friends at Baker McKenzie and outside the firm that worked with and admired Paul. For all of us Paul was a visionary, a true leader and a good friend. He will be greatly missed."

The statement added that Baker McKenzie staff have been offered counselling.