Veteran private equity lawyer Dominic FitzPatrick has been re-elected to serve a second term as UK senior partner of Taylor Wessing. 

FitzPatrick, a partner at the firm for more than 30 years, was first elected to the post in 2017, succeeding Adam Marks, who had served six years in the role. As UK senior partner, he works closely with the firm’s supervisory council, which sets remuneration, and its UK executive board, led by managing partner Shane Gleghorn, who succeeded three-term predecessor Tim Eyles in 2018. 

Gleghorn praised FitzPatrick’s “significant contribution” to the firm, both as fee-earner and senior partner.

In October, the firm introduced fixed-share partnerships for junior partners just five years after moving to an all-equity partnership and In January, it lost its on-the-ground presence in Singapore after splitting with its long-term ally RHTLaw.

FitzPatrick said during his first term as senior partner there had been a “renewal” of the firm’s strategy and changes to governance and partnership structure.  

“Our renewed strategic focus on technology, life sciences, healthcare and private wealth has positioned the firm well in the face of the challenges of Covid-19,” he said.

He added that the Covid-19 pandemic would “increase the pace of change in a legal market already changing at speed”.

In July, the firm reported a 7.3% increase in global revenue although the UK practice recorded only a slight increase to £157m, with profits down by 8% to £58m. The firm put this down to greater investment in technology, a new office in Liverpool and lateral hires.

UK hires secured in the current financial year include those of private client partners Damian Bloom and Simon Phelps, who joined from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner earlier this month, and private equity partner Ian Moore, who joined the firm from Eversheds Sutherland in October.

Prior to becoming senior partner, FitzPatrick held numerous management posts, including heading the projects, energy and corporate groups. His practice is split between significant sponsor and corporate roles in the energy and infrastructure sector, as well as a broad-ranging corporate brief, including acting as ‘de facto’ general counsel to businesses without that function.