In a rare lateral move among law firm leadership, DLA Piper global co-chair Juan Picon is leaving the firm to join Latham & Watkins in Madrid.

Picon, a corporate partner and Spanish national, will join Latham as Madrid office head after just 18 months at the helm of DLA. He had been appointed senior partner of DLA Piper International – which comprises the firm’s operations outside of the United States – in March 2016, taking over from longstanding leader Sir Nigel Knowles.