Mark Dawkins has been elected to serve a second three-year term as managing partner at Simmons & Simmons. The re-appointment follows a strong financial performance over the last three years: last year, Simmons reported a 13 per cent increase in average profits per equity partner to £530,000 against a 10 per cent rise in revenue. Dawkins trained at Simmons, qualifying as a solicitor in the litigation department in 1985; he became a partner in 1990 and served spells as head of litigation and financial markets. He also sits on the Financial Services Authority’s lawyers’ consultative group.

Richard Plender, QC, of 20 Essex Street, has been made a High Court judge. Plender, who specialises in European Union law, has been assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and initially combined his advocacy work with a successful career as an academic, including senior as director of the Centre of European Law at King’s College, London. On becoming a QC in 1989, he focused on advocacy work, carving out a successful practice as an international law specialist, representing the UK and other states and organisations before international courts and tribunals. He also sat as a Crown Court Recorder, Employment Appeal Tribunal judge and World Trade Organisation panellist.

Bruce Kilpatrick has joined Addleshaw Goddard as a partner from Linklaters. He is taking up residence in the national firm’s seven-partner competition group, which includes Mark Clough, QC and senior economist Peter Bamford. Kilpatrick was an associate at Linklaters and has experience working out of both its London and Brussels offices. Phil McDonnell, head of Addleshaw Goddard’s competition practice, said: “Changes in the legislative and business landscapes have led to significant opportunities for high value work amongst the FTSE350, especially in the areas of behavioural competition law and merger control.”

Tony Roe, a former partner at Boyes Turner, is forming his own family law firm, Tony Roe Divorce & Family Law Solicitors. He left Boyes Turner, which is based in the Thames Valley and has 25 partners, at the end of last month. His new practice will be located in Theale, Berkshire, and focus on advising higher net worth individuals on complex divorce and children matters. Boyes Turner has ceased practising family law and will forward family-related inquiries to Roe’s new firm. Andrew Chalkley, chief executive of Boyes Turner, said: "I am sure that Tony's new venture will be a great success. He is an outstanding family lawyer and I have no hesitation in recommending him.”

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