'He's not a Brit and he's not from Yorkshire' - why Juan Picon got the nod as DLA Piper co-chair

He has a very good grasp of the international business, he is the right man for the job

While Knowles himself has acknowledged it is time for a fresh perspective at the top of the international partnership, Picon has some big shoes to fill. How did he convince the firm he was up to the task?

Ticking all the boxes

Picon certainly has a number of the desirable attributes needed to take on the co-chair role of the global firm alongside his US counterpart Roger Meltzer.

“Juan has been with the firm for a while, he is experienced, he has a very good grasp of the international business, he is the right man for the job,” one DLA partner comments.

Another partner highlights his geographical and cultural distance from the firm’s Sheffield roots as a positive. While the firm has undoubtedly come a long way from its north of England routes, straight-talking Yorkshireman Knowles has remained strongly associated with the brand. And Levine [pictured below], the firm’s relatively young and fresh faced co-CEO, went to school in Hull.

“He’s not a Brit and he’s not from Yorkshire, having someone who is not from the common law world is very important, it’s a good decision,” the partner says.

Secondly, he is a respected partner with an active corporate practice, advising clients such as Spanish multinational Abengoa and US private equity firm KKR.

While the firm’s outgoing leadership came of age in a firm that was resolutely domestic, in contrast Levine and Picon both have a real understanding of top-tier international legal work.

There has been some criticism of Picon’s appointment from former partners, one, who describes Picon as “relentlessly political”, doubts that he has the credentials to step into Knowles’ shoes, while another says that he lacks Knowles’ “charisma, vision and strategy”. DLA Piper and Picon declined to respond to the criticism.

However, within the firm, the feeling has been more positive. One DLA partner said: “It’s a good appointment, I haven’t heard a single negative comment within the firm.”

Well-positioned

Picon was clearly a favourite for the role from the moment Knowles announced his intention to step down. He has a great deal of management experience, having held senior management roles at the firm since joining from legacy Squire Sanders & Dempsey in 2006, and he was one of the front runners for the chief executive job when Knowles relinquished the role in 2014.

Federico Sutti, now at Dentons, but formerly managing director for Europe and Africa at DLA, said that Picon was one of four partners in the running for the chief executive role in 2014 alongside chief operating officer Andrew Darwin, eventual winner Levine and himself.

Having someone who is not from the common law world is very important

He adds: “My understanding was that the senior partner at that time Tony Angel was given the mandate by the board to select the best candidate for the succession, and after some consultation, I don’t know with whom, we were told in February 2014 that Simon was the designated candidate.”

Real estate specialist Sutti left the firm, launching Dentons’ Italian practice in October 2015.

With Sutti gone and Levine already in post, Picon was clearly a prime candidate for the vacancy.

On the announcement that he was to take up the co-chair role, Picon was keen to dispel any suggestions of rivalry with Levine, describing his relationship with him as “very tight,” and citing their closeness as a key reason for his successful appointment.