Taylor Wessing has elected Shane Gleghorn for a third term as UK managing partner. 

London-based Gleghorn will begin his third term 1 October 2024, having succeeded veteran leader Tim Eyles in the role six years ago. 

“I am delighted to confirm that Shane has been re-elected as UK managing partner,” said Nick Warr, who took over as UK senior partner at Taylor Wessing in January. “This further term, to 2027, recognises the focus and commitment that Shane has brought to the role since 2018 as well as the growth and progress achieved on many fronts.”

Gleghorn is a verteran of the Anglo-German firm of more than 18 years and co-led its international disputes and investigations group before taking on the MP role. A banking and fraud litigator, he advises the firm’s international clients and their senior officers on large-scale litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations.

Between 2018 and 2023 Gleghorn oversaw Taylor Wessing increase total revenue from £301.5m to a record £438.9m. Revenue for the firm’s UK business rose by 3.5% in the year to 30 April 2023 to £227.1m, though profits fell by 12% to £81.7m, which the firm at the time chalked up to “significant investment” over the course of the year.

The firm, which focuses on technology, media and communications, life sciences and healthcare, real estate and private wealth, said it has continued to invest in its strategic sector hubs, including the London/Cambridge/Oxford triangle, Ireland, Benelux and the Middle East. Last year it also announced a strategic partnership with Spanish heavyweight ECIJA to expand its offering to the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. 

The firm has grown headcount by 6% over the past year according to data from Pirical, and now houses more than 1,300 lawyers including around 460 partners. Recent laterals include Natasha Zahid in Dubai from Clyde & Co to lead the MENA disputes and investigations team and prominent patent litigation partner Thomas Adocker from top Austrian IP firm Schwarz Schönherr.

Gleghorn commented: “I am honoured to continue in this role at a time when there are so many opportunities and strong ambition for international growth. Our sector-led approach, underpinned by ongoing investment in our complex corporate/M&A, IP and disputes/investigations capabilities, is delivering results across all of our locations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.”

Gleghorn will continue as co-chair of Taylor Wessing’s global board alongside Dusseldorf-based Oliver Bertram, who has recently been elected as managing partner for Germany and takes over from Olaf Kranz on 1 July.