When Legal Week broke the surprise resignation of Allen & Overy (A&O) managing partner John Rink this month, it was not only the firm’s competitors that were caught off guard.

The majority of the firm’s corporate partners also found out as a result of our enquiries – an issue that has caused discord before the race to find Rink’s successor has even begun. Significantly, senior finance partners appeared to be the only ones outside of the board in the loop.