‘A baptism of fire’ is how Simon Beswick describes his accession to the role of managing partner of Osborne Clarke.
Prior to his appointment, a period of rapid expansion as the firm surfed the internet wave was followed by a much-publicised downsizing. In a little over a year, more than 20 partners – many from Osborne Clarke’s London office – were lost as the practice belatedly faced up to the technology and media slump. When Beswick officially took up his post on 1 May last year, the firm’s profits per partner had fallen by some 20% over the preceding financial year.
