Tinkler, Tailor, Soldier, Boss: New Corporate Pamjamdrum for MegaFirm

LONDON - Clifford Chance (CC) has elected Simon Tinkler as its new London corporate head after the voting process closed yesterday (6 July).

Tinkler succeeds David Pearson, who has served two terms in role after first being elected in 2003.

Tinkler, who already has an administrative role in the London corporate team as its human resources partner, joined CC in 1995 and made partner in 2000. He trained at Osborne Clarke and has also worked in-house for British Aerospace.

His practice focuses on private equity, complex leveraged buyouts, investment banking advice, takeovers and corporate M&A.

As Legal Week reported last week, the vote was a confirmatory process after CC's nominations committee put forward Tinkler as the sole candidate for the role after sounding out the corporate partners. Other early favourites for the role had included M&A partner Kathy Honeywood.

CC global head of corporate Matthew Layton said: "David Pearson has made a tremendous contribution to our success in London during his eight years in the role, and Simon has demonstrated all the right attributes to lead the continued successful development of the London practice going forward."

The news comes after a number of London department head elections for CC so far this year.

The firm last week elected a new London real estate head, with City partner Jonathan Solomon replacing Cliff McAuley, who will retire at the end of the financial year.

CC also elected global litigation head Jeremy Sandelson as its new London litigation chief last month, replacing Nick Munday, while City acquisition finance partners Michael Bates and Robert Lee were named new co-heads of London finance in March.