Veteran Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) lawyer Frank Dunne is stepping out of the legal front line after 39 years with the firm.
From 1 April, the senior partner will become a consultant with the title of senior advisor.
The plan is for Dunne to focus on supporting clients he has worked so closely with for many years, while continuing to assist partners and their teams and remaining a strong advocate and ambassador for the firm.
Dunne joined WFW at its inception in 1982, making partner only two years later in 1984.
He established the firm’s presence in Greece and has spent time in New York and London.
The lawyer was succeeded as chairman in 2017 by Nigel Thomas, who has been a WFW partner since 1988.
Dunne had fulfilled that role since 2004.
In 2016, Dunne moved to the US to strengthen the firm’s New York shipping practice.
His chairmanship coincided with a period of major global expansion for the firm.
WFW said Dunne is "universally recognised" as one of the world’s leading maritime lawyers.
He is best known for representing banks in their dealings with shipowners, as well as assisting private equity institutions investing in the maritime sector.
Restructurings a speciality
Over the course of his career, he has led many of the most high-profile industry restructurings of the past three decades.
Lindsey Keeble, global maritime sector co-head at WFW, said: "From the recognition at the outset that lawyers must act as business partners to their clients providing them with practical, commercial solutions, Frank has always been a step ahead of the majority when it comes to identifying the trends that have shaped and changed the legal profession."
Both Dunne and Thomas spent early years as colleagues at Norton Rose, before Thomas left for investment bank Lazard and Dunne joined WFW to set up the Piraeus office.
George Paleokrassas, global maritime sector co-head at WFW, said: "Frank’s commitment to WFW is absolute."
Peleokrassas said Dunne has served as a mentor for generations of WFW lawyers.
Chris Lowe, the firm's co-managing partner, said: "We look forward to Frank continuing to be a major part of life at WFW and hope that everyone can continue to access both his experience and sense of humour — as many have had the pleasure of doing over the years."
