Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie is making new global leadership announcements for some of its practice and industry groups, with changes coming into effect on 1 July 2020.

For our practice groups, London-based Matthew Dening is replacing Michael Foundethakis, based in Paris, as Chair of Banking & Finance, while London-based Helen Bradley is taking over as the Firm’s Capital Markets Chair, replacing Koen Vanhaerents in Brussels. Karen Guch, from the Firm’s London office is also replacing London-based David Allen as Global Private Equity Chair, having previously acted as its regional Chair in EMEA. David Allen has been appointed head of corporate in London.

The industry groups will welcome Vanina Caniza, from Buenos Aires, as the new Global Chair of Baker McKenzie’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Group. She takes over from Sydney-based Ben McLaughlin. Elsewhere, Alyssa Auberger, Chair of the Firm’s Consumer Goods & Retail team, based in Paris, has had her term extended for one year, and Nikolaus Reinhuber, who is Chair of Industrials, Manufacturing & Transportation, based in Frankfurt, has had his term extended for three years.

Commenting on these announcements, Baker McKenzie’s Global Chair Milton Cheng said, “I am delighted to welcome our new practice and industry group leaders to their positions. We have had plenty to be proud of this year despite the challenges we are all facing and I look forward to seeing how this new team will continue to drive our progress.”

“I would also like to sincerely thank Michael Foundethakis, Koen Vanhaerents, David Allen and Ben McLaughlin for the exceptional leadership and service of, and contributions to, their respective practice and industry groups, supporting the needs of our clients and our people around the globe.”