Susan Kelly Elected as Non-Executive Chair of Dentons Global Board

Reading Time:

2

minutes

Posted: 4th September 2025

Natalie Sherman

Susan Kelly Elected as Non-Executive Chair of Dentons Global Board.

Dentons, the world’s largest global law firm, has announced the election of Susan Kelly as Non-Executive Chair of the Global Board, effective November 10, 2025.

Susan Kelly, a banking partner in Dentons’ Edinburgh and London offices, has long been a prominent figure in the firm’s leadership. Ms. Kelly currently serves on both the Dentons UK, Ireland and Middle East LLP Board and the Firm’s Global Board. The new appointment follows Nick Park, who previously held the role of Non-Executive Chair.

As Non-Executive Chair, Ms. Kelly will preside over meetings of the Global Board, the Global Advisory Committee, and the General Assembly of the Verein.

“I am excited to assume the role of Non-Executive Chair and support Dentons as we continue to prioritize aligning and integrating the firm. Dentons is uniquely positioned in more than 80 countries to provide support and solutions to clients, and I plan to look at ways in which we can bring client and leadership perspectives into the boardroom to benefit everyone.” Susan Kelly said.

Dentons’ Global CEO Kate Barton emphasized the importance of Kelly’s election for the firm’s future:

“With my thanks to Nick for his service, I am delighted to welcome Susan as our incoming Non-Executive Chair of the Global Board. Susan has been an integral part of Dentons for many years. We will all benefit from her years of legal and industry experience as we continue to deliver exceptional client service.”

“She is a seasoned and dynamic operator, and I am confident that she will play a key role in overseeing the function of the Global Board as we lead the Firm from strength to greater strength.”

Ms. Kelly began her career with Dentons in 1991, when she joined the firm in Scotland under its former identity, Maclay Murray & Spens. She became a partner in 1998 and went on to build a practice that spans corporate lending, acquisition finance, and real estate finance in both domestic and international markets.

Her expertise stretches across industries including food and drink, manufacturing, technology, and real estate. Over three decades, Kelly has developed a reputation for guiding clients through high-value and complex transactions.

Susan Kelly’s track record has earned her consistent recognition from legal directories. Both Chambers and Legal 500 rank her as a Band 1 lawyer in Finance, and she is included in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. Chambers also recognizes her as an Eminent Practitioner, describing her as a “distinguished practitioner, praised for her involvement in significant deals.”

Outside of Dentons, Ms. Kelly has served on the Board of Strathclyde University and contributed to its Investment and Innovation Committee.

In that capacity, she played a key role in developing governance frameworks and helped the university achieve some of the strongest investment returns in the UK , ranking just behind Cambridge and Oxford.

Dentons, founded in 2013, is the world’s largest law firm, operating in over 80 countries. With its unique polycentric structure, Dentons offers clients access to top-tier legal talent and deep local insight across key global markets. The firm is recognized for its commitment to innovation, client service, and helping organizations navigate complex legal and business challenges in a rapidly evolving world.