International firm names former Magic Circle firm's APAC chief as first CEO

The appointment is made as the firm focuses on future growth

International firm names former Magic Circle firm's APAC chief as first CEO

A Switzerland-headquartered international has named a former regional managing partner of a Magic Circle firm as its first-ever chief executive.

LALIVE said on Monday that Thomas Brown commenced in his role as CEO at the start of the year. He will work with the leaders and partners of the firm to drive continued growth in key areas and jurisdictions, particularly in Zurich and London, the firm said.

Brown spent three decades at Allen & Overy (A&O), including long tenures in leadership positions. For the last 15 years of his career, he was managing partner of the Tokyo and Hong Kong offices of A&O. He was also Asia-Pacific managing partner in the eight years until he retired from the Magic Circle firm’s partnership in 2015.

Brown is an expert in projects and finance and worked with LALIVE in its international arbitration practice for a year after he became a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 2015.

“As our firm continues to grow in its core practice areas and geographies, it is invaluable to have a dedicated person of Thomas’ experience to pursue our strategy, drive the business, and help further modernise our client services delivery,” said Domitille Baizeau, joint managing partner of LALIVE.

“Having previously spent a year at LALIVE and learnt about their practice, I can’t think of a more perfect place for me to be,” Brown said. “Its strategy of being one of the world’s pre-eminent disputes practices is clear and I am looking forward to bringing my international law firm management experience to help the firm achieve its full potential.”

LALIVE is known for its dispute resolution expertise. The independent firm has offices in Geneva, Zurich, and London.


Thomas Brown

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