Appleby Unveils Management Changes
Bermuda-headquartered Appleby, the world’s largest offshore legal firm, has revamped its management structure “to broaden its strategic mandate” according to a top UK legal journal.
“The Lawyer” reports today [May 16] that in a series of elections held earlier this month, group managing partner Peter Bubenzer was elected as the firm’s first chairman. Bermudian Mr. Bubenzer will lead a newly formed group management company board to replace Appleby’s executive board.
Jersey managing partner Michael O’Connell becomes managing partner after a contested election against three other candidates. He will serve a three-year term.
Mr. O’Connell and Mr Bubenzer will both sit ex officio on the group management company board, joined by elected partners John Bisson, David Lines, Stephen James, Fraser Robertson and Nick Verardi. Mr. Bisson formerly chaired the executive board
Appleby chief executive James Jardine, who has been with the firm for almost 20 years, has stepped down. That role has been replaced with two positions: director of finance Scott Carter becomes Appelby’s chief financial officer and director of human resources Gareth Russell takes up the chief operating officer position.
Earlier this year “The Lawyer” named Appleby as the world’s leading international law firm, saying it “continues to streak ahead of its peers”. Bermuda is now home to four of the 20 largest off-shore law firms in the world — Appleby, Conyers, Dill & Pearman, Mello, Jones & Martin and Cox Hallett Wilkinson.
