Governance structure

The Partnership Agreement requires that certain issues are subject to a vote of partners. In particular, the Senior, Managing and Executive Partners are elected, each serving four-year terms. Partners also vote on new partners, mergers or acquisitions and amendments to the Partnership Agreement. Each partner has a single vote, although on certain matters (such as the arrangements for remuneration of equity partners), only equity partners are entitled to vote.

Management Committee

The management of the firm is the responsibility of the Management Committee, chaired by Managing Partner David Childs. The Committee also includes the firm's Executive Partner (its General Counsel) the Chief Financial Officer, the Global Chief Operating Officer, six Practice Area Leaders and six Regional Managing Partners.

The Committee meets monthly. It is responsible for our strategy, finances and profitability, our growth and the development of our competitive position. It oversees the relationships with our strategic clients and leads our immediate and longer term business planning. The Committee monitors the performance of each practice area and office, and determines the size of the partnership and the business case for prospective new partners.

Partnership Council

The firm's Partnership Council provides appropriate checks and balances to the executive management of the firm. The Council is chaired by Senior Partner Malcolm Sweeting and comprises six other elected partners. David Childs is an ex-officio member. The Council's role is to monitor the performance of the Management Committee and its members, to ensure that the firm is managed in a way that is fair to all partners, to safeguard the reputation of the firm and to organise votes and elections required under the Partnership Agreement.

Global Operations Group

A Global Operations Group, chaired by the Global Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Burton, is responsible to the Managing Partner and the Management Committee for the firm's support services. The Group has 15 members, comprising regional chief operating officers, the Director of IT, the People Partner, the Head of Internal Communications, the Global Head of Business Development and the Chief Financial Officer. The Group also oversees the successful management of internal projects, ranging from major technology initiatives to the continued expansion and running of the firm's Global Shared Service Centre in India.

General Counsel

The General Counsel function, led by Chris Perrin, reports to the Managing Partner and Management Committee. It is responsible for compliance, risk management, insurance and legal issues affecting the firm. It also manages the firm's conflict clearance processes. Conflict laws and regulations vary from country to country: our approach is to apply the rules that apply in the country where the work is to be done. On multi-jurisdictional work, we will apply the rules of the country where they are most restrictive. Where a lawyer is based abroad, we also ensure that he/she complies with the rules of the bar where he/she is admitted. All new clients and new matters are cleared centrally through our clearance centres, staffed by experts in the relevant issues.

Partner Selection Group

The Partner Selection Group reports to the Partnership Council. This Group reviews and reports on the personal qualities of all candidates for partnership.

Audit Committee

The six-member Audit Committee also reports to the Partnership Council. It reviews and approves the firm's accounts and recommends which firm should be appointed as auditors. It also monitors the firm's risk management process.