NautaDutilh’s joint chiefs have quit their roles ahead of a management shake-up that will see the pair stand down in favour of a full time professional manager.
The surprise decision by joint managing partners Joan van Marwijk Kooy and Job van der Have to stand down comes after a year dogged with internal strategic uncertainties, sliding profits and the loss of a major restructuring job from long-term client Parmalat to rival Houthoff Buruma in January.
The move is expected to see the firm scrap the managing partner role altogether.
Van der Have and van Marwijk Kooy are both discussing their options within the firm, though Nauta partners stressed that no firm decision regarding their future had been taken.
Nauta is set to finalise the appointment next week of a senior business figure to lead the firm amid indications that the firm is hoping for a clear shift in strategic direction.
Unusually for a Dutch firm, Nauta is to appoint a non-lawyer to the role, backed by a four partner board.
One Nauta partner told Legal Week: “Quite a few partners are not happy with what is happening and this part-time four partner board is not a long-term solution but an interim answer.
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