haywoodWragge & Co corporate partner Richard Haywood has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the race to lead the Midlands giant, five months after it was announced that current senior partner John Crabtree was to step down.

A number of candidates have been named by observers as possible successors to Crabtree – including head of private equity Maurice Dwyer and technology M&A partner Ian Metcalfe – but Haywood is the clear favourite to take the role.