Baker McKenzie Makes Leadership Changes, Appoints Singapore Partner as New Financial Institutions Group Leader

Baker McKenzie Makes Leadership Changes, Appoints Singapore Partner as New Financial Institutions Group Leader

In a strategic move, Baker McKenzie, a renowned global law firm, has made significant changes to the leadership of three practice and sector groups.

Notably, Jonathan Peddie, an investigations specialist based in London, has stepped aside to allow Emmanuel Hadjidakis, a partner specialising in banking and finance in Singapore, to assume leadership of the prestigious financial institutions' team.

The changes, slated to become effective from July 1, also see Zurich-based IP partner Eva-Maria Strobel and London technology partner Steve Holmes take over as co-chairs of the global intellectual property, technology and data practice group.

Simultaneously, the global tax group will now be led by James Wilson, based in Washington DC.

Milton Cheng, the Global Chair of Baker McKenzie, emphasized the significance of all three groups as crucial areas for the firm's growth.

“For example, as the global financial sector embraces new technologies and moves to a carbon-neutral economy, our financial institutions practice is a leader in advising clients on the opportunities and risks that they pose,” Milton Cheng added.

Jonathan Peddie became a member of Baker McKenzie's London office in 2014, transitioning from his role as Global Head of Financial Crime Legal at Barclays. In 2018, he assumed leadership of the financial institutions' group within the firm. Peddie's initial four-year term in this position was extended by an additional year.

Emmanuel Hadjidakis, the successor to Jonathan Peddie, joined Baker McKenzie as a partner in Singapore back in 2010. Throughout the Asia Pacific region, Hadjidakis has been actively involved in representing financial institutions, borrowers, and private equity funds. As the new leader of the financial institutions' group, which includes an impressive roster of nearly 600 lawyers, Hadjidakis is expected to serve the standard four-year term. It's worth noting that term extensions for such leadership positions are not uncommon, often adding a year to the tenure.

Eva-Maria Strobel, who has been a partner at Baker McKenzie for nearly eight years, is now assuming a global leadership position within the firm. Her expertise lies in intellectual property (IP), with a particular focus on the luxury goods, cosmetics, food and beverages, and healthcare sectors.

Joining her as co-chair of the IP, technology, and data practice group is Steve Holmes who specialises in advising on technology-related matters, including outsourcing, telecommunications, and digital transactions.

Together, Strobel and Holmes will take over the reins from Anne-Marie Allgrove, a commercial specialist based in Sydney, who previously held the position.

James Wilson, currently serving as the chair of Baker McKenzie's global tax planning, transactions, and tax policy sub-practice group, has been appointed to lead the global tax group. Wilson's extensive career at Baker McKenzie spans over 20 years, during which he has worked across offices in London, New York, and Washington DC. With diverse experience and a comprehensive understanding of tax matters, Wilson is seen as a worthy successor to Amsterdam-based Antonio Russo.

Milton Cheng, the Global Chair of Baker McKenzie, highlighted the significance of tax as a crucial area for the firm. Cheng acknowledged the rapid transformation and evolving legislation that shapes the future business landscape, emphasising how tax considerations increasingly intersect with the most strategic business decisions of clients.

The tenures of seven practice and sector leaders have been extended by an additional year. These leaders include Michael DeFranco (Chicago), overseeing the transactional practice group, Adam Farlow (London), heading the capital markets practice, Karen Guch (London), leading the private equity practice, Vanina Caniza (Buenos Aires), overseeing the healthcare and life sciences practice, Mark Hamer (Washington, DC), leading the antitrust and competition practice, Matthew Dening (London), overseeing the banking and finance practice, and Michael Brewer (San Francisco), heading the employment and compensation practice.

In the previous year, the terms of three group chairs were extended, while four new appointments were made across various industry groups. These appointments and extensions encompassed the global technology, media, and telecoms industry group, the global industrials, manufacturing, and transportation industry group, the global capital markets group, and the energy, mining, and infrastructure group.