Addleshaw Goddard elects new chairman

LAW firm Addleshaw Goddard has elected a new senior partner for the next three years.

Monica Burch – a partner in the firm’s contentious group and member of the firm’s governance board – has been elected to succeed Paul Lee at the end of his term as senior partner on May 1.

The firm has also announced its intention to replace the title of ‘senior partner’ with ‘chairman of the board’ from May 1.

Ms Burch said: “I would like to thank Paul Lee for his focus and commitment to our firm over the past years – that has made a huge contribution to the success of our firm.

“It is a privilege to have been elected chairman of Addleshaw Goddard, and I am very much looking forward to working with Paul Devitt and the firm’s management team, in leading our firm’s growth and development.”

She joined legacy firm Theodore Goddard as a trainee in 1988 and became a partner in 1999 after a brief stint at a US firm.

She currently plays a major role in a number of the firm’s key client relationships and advises on a wide range of disputes.

Ms Burch will now combine her key client responsibilities with her role as chairman as well as focusing on clients, markets and the importance of enhancing Addleshaw Goddard’s ‘city’ reputation in Manchester and Leeds.

Paul Lee – who will continue to play an active role in the partnership after May 1 – said: “My congratulations go to Monica and I wish her well.

“With Monica as chairman and Paul Devitt as managing partner, the firm is in very good hands.

“They have the support of our partners and the wider business to help us to deliver on what really matters to our clients and create the best possible environment for the firm’s talent to flourish.”
 
Managing partner Paul Devitt said: “We are very fortunate to have benefited from Paul’s very significant contribution over many years, and now to have such a strong successor.

“I am excited at the prospect of working closely with Monica in leading our firm in executing our strategy.”