Dechert has refreshed its London management committee following two departures from the group last year.

Asset management partner Gus Black has been appointed chair of the London management committee, while London private equity co-head Chris Field has also joined the group.

The duo join longtime committee member Jason Butwick – who served as London office managing partner before the firm shifted to a committee management structure in 2016.

The appointments follow two departures from the committee. Former London chairman Camille Abousleiman stepped down from the role last month, while committee member Miriam Gonzalez left the firm in October 2018. 

Her departure and the new appointments mean the committee is now an all-male affair.

A financial services partner, Black has been at Dechert for 12 years, having joined the U.S. firm in 2006 from magic circle firm Slaughter and May. 

A former partner at Kirkland & Ellis, Field joined Dechert in 2017, becoming co-head of private equity shortly after.

Private equity co-head, Chris Field

Abousleiman left the partnership to become minister of labour in the new Lebanese Government. His departure came just four months after that of Gonzalez, who left to become head of trade and European regulation at U.S. firm Cohen & Gresser.

Abousleiman remains at Dechert as of counsel.

Black said in a statement: "London is a strategic priority and focus of investment for the firm and Chris's appointment to the committee reflects this commitment. Chris is already helping to drive significant expansion of our private equity practice in London and he will play a key role as we continue to grow in London."