At some firms, a senior partner election of the type Linklaters faces this month would be regarded as an accident waiting to happen. Not only does it pit two of the firm’s biggest names – former head of corporate David Cheyne and finance head Giles White – against each other, but also the figureheads of its two flagship practices.
It is in the nature of such battles that they can become personal, perhaps even prompting the loser to leave. That could happen at Linklaters. If that is the case, so be it.
