Lawyer Monthly - November 2021 Edition

LAWYER MOVES Robert Shooter has been elected to succeed Michael Chissick as managing partner at top 30 UK firm Fieldfisher. Shooter currently heads Fieldfisher’s technology, outsourcing and privacy practice and is a member of its executive committee. He joined the firm in 2002 and made partner in 2006, and his practice focuses on acting for supplier and customers in the commercial tech space. The firm has stated that he will continue to maintain client relationships in his new role. Shooter is set to begin as managing partner next May following the end of Michael Chissick’s decade in the role. During his time at Fieldfisher, Chissick has overseen a period of significant expansion at the firm, which has seen turnover rise from £95 million to £290 million since he took over the managing partner position in 2012. "It's been fantastic working with Michael,” Shooter said in a comment on his appointment. “I'm now looking forward to leading the firm into a new era of working with clients and colleagues through a period of further collaboration, integration and growth.” Chissick also commented on Shooter’s appointment. “It has been a privilege to lead the firm through an exceptional period of growth, but it is now time to hand the reins over to the next generation to define the next phase of the firm's development,” he said. “The firm is in good hands with Rob.” Fieldfisher Names Successor to Veteran Managing Partner Sullivan & Cromwell’s former Asia M&A/PE head, Michael George DeSombre, has rejoined the firm after a brief tenure as US ambassador to Thailand from 2020. DeSombre has resumed the responsibilities he previously held at the firm’s Hong Kong office. Aside from reclaiming his position as head of the Asia M&A/PE practices, he has also returned to lead the firm’s Korea team. In addition, he will take up a new role as coordinator of Sullivan & Cromwell’s Southeast Asia practice. During his prior stint at the firm, DeSombre specialised in public and private M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and direct investments in China, Korea, Southeast Asia and elsewhere in Asia. As ambassador, he pushed for greater economic cooperation between the US and Thailand, particularly regarding investments by American and other western companies in Thailand. “I am thrilled to be re-joining my colleagues at Sullivan & Cromwell,” DeSombre said in a statement. “There has never been a more exciting time to be a deal lawyer in Asia, and I look forward to advising the firm’s clients on their most pressing and complex challenges.” Sullivan&CromwellWelcomes Back Former USAmbassador 11 NOV 2021 | WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM