Simon Konsta

Clyde & Co's Simon Konsta is to step down as senior partner two years before his term ends.

Konsta, who was appointed senior partner in 2016 on a five-year term, will vacate the role on October 31. 

Konsta told Legal Week he had made the "personal decision" to "step aside", and instead wishes to refocus his attentions on fee-earning work, which he will continue to carry out as a partner at Clydes.

"The role of senior partner is an incredibly privileged one," Konsta said. "But it's where you also spend a huge amount of time at a particular level on certain functions that have to be attended to. They require a particular pattern of approach."

The firm's arbitration group co-chair Peter Hirst will take over as senior partner from November 1. He has been at the firm for 16 years, having joined from legacy Beachcroft in 2002.

For the past 11 years, Konsta has held a number of leadership roles. He was previously the managing partner of legacy Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, which merged with Clydes in 2011, following which he was Clydes' global head of insurance. He also chairs the firm's global management board. 

Under his stewardship, Clydes has grown from a £248 million business to one of the world's largest insurance-focused firms, with a top line of more than £600 million on the back of rapid expansion in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S.

His decision, which he says was "taken in conjunction with the board", will enable him to "focus on what I'm best equipped at".  He added: "I'm hugely passionate. Absolutely, totally. It's all about being effective as one can be."

As a fee-earner, Konsta has a particular focus on the disputes and professional liability spaces.

He added that it was sometimes necessary "to withdraw" and that he would "now like to be able to focus on being more immersive, to drive home the competitive advantage we have in those areas".

"It's been a hell of a journey over last three years or so, so I'm entitled to take time out," Konsta said. "We have this remarkable platform, and we're continuing to focus on those areas that have served us so well. The firm has not just grown in scale, but in terms of options and needs too.

"It's been a wonderful learning process, and a fiscally and professionally successful path, in terms of broadening the business and revamping governance structures."

On his new appointment, Hirst said in a statement: "I am honoured and excited to have been asked by the partnership to take on the senior partner role."