DLA Piper has elected London corporate partner Andrew Darwin as the new senior partner of its business outside the US, in the wake of former post-holder Juan Picon resigning to join Latham & Watkins in Madrid.

Darwin saw off competition from seven other contenders to secure the leadership role through a partnership vote that closed on Friday evening (8 February).

The two-tier election process saw Darwin defeat London based international corporate head Bob Bishop and City corporate partner Jon Hayes in the second  – and final – round of voting.