Bristol-headquartered international legal practice Osborne Clarke has appointed Ray Berg as its next UK managing partner. He will succeed long-standing managing partner Simon Beswick, whose term will end on January 1 after 12 years.
Simon Beswick will continue in his role as CEO of Osborne Clarke International (OCI), which has grown from six offices in 2011 to 18 today. It has also invested heavily in its partnership by hiring more than 50 laterals in two years and will continue to grow in line with a second phase of its internationalisation plans.
Ray Berg qualified as a lawyer in 1992 and joined Osborne Clarke as a partner in 2001. He has been continually recognised as one of the leading merger and acquisitions lawyers by clients and fellow practitioners.
In January last year he took on the role of head of Osborne Clarke’s business transactions group, which includes both corporate and commercial teams. In that role he has overseen a significant increase in the profitability of the practice group, growing his UK team to more than 100 lawyers.
Osborne Clarke senior partner Andrew Saul said: “What Simon has achieved over his time as UK managing partner and CEO of the international business is extraordinary.
“We’ve become more profitable, doubled in size, trebled the number of our offices and embedded a successful sector strategy. Given his increased focus on OCI, I believe that we will continue to go from strength to strength internationally.”
Ray Berg added: “I inherit a firm that’s been exceptionally well run so I can’t wait to get started on January 1 in my new role. I’m going to spend the next few weeks getting out and seeing as many of our clients as possible and listening to their views about how OC can best serve them.”
Pictured, from left: Osborne Clarke senior partner Andrew Saul with new UK managing partner Ray Berg, who takes up his post on January 1
