Clyde & Co partners have elected insurance head Simon Konsta as the firm’s new senior partner after James Burns took the shock decision to step down last month.
Konsta was originally tipped to run against Burns for the role in 2012, but did not end up throwing his hat into the ring. Burns replaced Michael Payton, who stepped down after leading the firm for nearly three decades.
As well as leading the firm’s insurance team Konsta sits on Clydes’ global board and maintains a practice focusing on commercial dispute resolution and professional liability.
Before being acquired by Clydes Konsta was senior partner at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG). The two firms were rivals in the insurance market but the merger saved struggling BLG while at the same time allowing Clydes to take a rival out of the market.
Last month The Lawyer revealed that Burns was stepping down from his senior partner role after only three years to take up a new position as head of the Americas. He will now be tasked with overseeing the firm’s expansion into Canada, the US, and Latin America.
Clydes has operated in the US for the last ten years and is now looking to further boost its capabilities in the region. The firm recently acquired Miami litigation boutique Thornton Davis Fein, which increased its US headcount to around 160 lawyers.
Konsta will take up the role as senior partner on 1 November.
In his new role as senior partner Konsta will chair Clydes’ global management board and work closely with its regional boards, global management team and chief executive Peter Hasson.
Konsta says: “To have been elected senior partner of a firm of the calibre of Clyde & Co is an enormous privilege. One of the great strengths of this firm is that it has long been committed to a clear sector based growth strategy. My primary focus will be on maintaining that while broadening out our client programme across all sectors and regions so that we are ready for the next phase of our growth.”
