Derry-Evans: merger experience
A former managing partner of international law firm CMS Cameron McKenna has joined legal business consultants the 360 Legal Group as a director and investor.
Robert Derry-Evans aims to boost the work of the 360 Legal Group, a Legal Futures associate. He will focus on enhancing and growing the services, products and benefits available to its members and helping them get work, save costs and restructure.
Mr Derry-Evans, who for five years was also executive partner of CMS, the group of nine European law firms that includes CMS Cameron McKenna, said: “My experience of growing and merging major law firms has much direct relevance to the challenges facing smaller legal practices. I look forward to bringing a new level of expertise, strategic guidance and practical help to managing partners facing the stresses of leading their law firms through uncertain times and to further enhancing the services provided to 360 Legal Group members.”
Viv Williams, 360 Legal Group’s chief executive welcomed the move, saying: “Robert’s experience of managing some of the UK and Europe’s leading law firms, his expertise in growing highly successful professional practices and his insight into strategic planning and professional development adds a new dimension to the service we can offer our members and clients.”
He added: “We are working with a growing number of progressive and ambitious law firms who are preparing for merger, alternative business structures or private investment and Robert will be working with us on the roles, problems and challenges which face managing partners and their teams. He will also be focused on our membership ensuring that they have at their fingertips the understanding, tools and support to deal with the difficult and fast changing trading conditions facing the profession and can manage and market their practices more successfully as businesses.”
Mr Derry-Evans qualified as a solicitor in 1977 and became a banking partner, specialising in project finance and commercial lending and acting for banks, issuers and project sponsors. He became managing partner of the Hong Kong office of McKenna & Co in 1986 and the firm’s managing partner in 1994. He subsequently became managing partner of Cameron McKenna.
In 2003 he became executive partner of CMS. Working from the UK, Brussels and Frankfurt he helped to develop the CMS brand and profile, until his retirement from the business in 2008. He is a consultant to Outside Insight, a consultancy run by lawyers servicing the legal sector and sits on the board of a UK-based medical charity.
Leave a Comment