Baker McKenzie partners have been expressing their sadness at the passing of Paul Rawlinson, the firm's chairman, whose untimely death was announced last night.

One Bakers partner told Legal Week this morning: "It's terribly sad. People here are just completely devastated. He was a very popular, incredibly charismatic person and everyone here will miss him very much."

Rawlinson's legal career started in 1986 where, after studying law in England and France, he joined Baker McKenzie as an intellectual property lawyer.

He made partner a decade later, and led the firm's global IP practice from 2004 to 2010. Fluent in Spanish and French, he acted for a host of the firm's heavyweight clients, including Cisco, L'Oréal, HP and British American Tobacco.

"He was a very popular, incredibly charismatic person and everyone here will miss him very much"

In 2013, he took over as London managing partner, and three years later, became the first British person to lead the global firm as chairman. Well regarded by peers and journalists, he was viewed as a genuinely empathetic and likeable character.

Speaking to partners at the time, those qualities and his track record as London head were named as the factors that got him the top job – as well as his skills as a "fantastic piano player".

Partners spoke of his emotional intelligence and pointed to the City office's headcount and revenue growth as evidence he was the right man for the role.

Paul Rawlinson talking to China Global Television Network in early 2018. Source: Twitter.

In his first year in the position, he oversaw a refreshed 2020 strategy that saw the firm ramp up transactional headcount in New York, London and China, and renew its focus on core sectors.

Manchester-born and an enthusiastic City fan, he was known for his charisma and winning smile but also his ability to offer emotional support.

"He believed in me when I doubted myself"

Last year, Baker corporate finance head Helen Bradley said he had been the biggest influence on her career, saying: "He believed in me when I doubted myself."

Rawlinson behind the bar at his local pub. Source: Twitter

A keen diversity champion, in September last year he was ranked as the leading lawyer in the Male Champion of Women in Business in the U.K. award by the Financial Times.

That same month, he told Legal Week of his U.S. ambitions for the firm, telling us it was actively targeting a merger.