At its annual partner meeting held in Barcelona, leading global law firm Baker & McKenzie announced Paul Rawlinson was to become the 15th Chairman of Baker & McKenzie and the first British Chairman of the Firm.

Commenting on this appointment, Baker & McKenzie South Africa Co-managing Partner Morné van der Merwe said, "It is with a sense of excitement that we welcome Paul as our new Chairman. We have no doubt that under his modern and energetic leadership style we will continue to flourish and expand on the African continent.

"Paul is aligned with and fully supportive of our vision to be the premier global law firm in Africa by continuing to influence and shape the manner in which Africa becomes integrated into and part of the main stream global economy.  It will also assist our clients to navigate the risks they are facing in an innovative manner, creating clarity in a fast changing and often uncertain global business environment, always mindful of our responsibility to make a positive contribution to society."

Paul Rawlinson said, "I am truly humbled and delighted to be Chairman of Baker & McKenzie, and to welcome our new Executive Committee members and Regional Chairs, who will join me on this journey. We have an exciting vision for the Firm which will centre around our clients and our people, and I am confident that our new teams will help us to achieve that."

Beginning January 1, 2017, current Chairman Eduardo Leite will be Baker & McKenzie's Chairman Emeritus and Senior Partner and will focus on the firm's priority of driving growth in New York and Latin America. He will be based in New York.

"The Johannesburg, South Africa office was established almost five years ago under the leadership of Eduardo Leite, and it is with a debt of gratitude for his vision, efforts and support that we see him moving on, " notes van der Merwe.

Earlier this year the firm announced that it had appointed Gerhard Rudolph and Morné van der Merwe as co-managing partners of the South Africa office, and that Wildu du Plessis had been appointed in a new role as Africa head for the Johannesburg office. This was part of the firm's strategic plan to coordinate the Johannesburg office's efforts in Africa and raise its profile and traction throughout the continent.

The firm has an extensive practice covering the African continent, with three offices in Cairo, Casablanca and Johannesburg, over 100 fee earners based in Africa and more than 200 across the rest of the firm with a focus on Africa.