John Joyce

Mr Joyce became managing partner in 2014, and was re-elected in 2017 and 2021, for his third term. His decision to step down at the end of the current financial year (30 April 2024) after a decade in office brings forward by one year the election to find his successor.

The election process is underway and will be conducted in accordance with the firm’s established protocols. Mr Joyce’s successor will be identified by early 2024, allowing time for a smooth succession. He will continue beyond 30 April 2024 as a partner in Addleshaw Goddard, with the role profile to be finalised over the coming months.

Commenting on the decision, Mr Joyce said: “After an amazing 10 years, it is time to move on.

“One of the first things I did as MP was to carry out a major overhaul of the firm’s Members Agreement and that included introducing a two-term limit for managing and Senior partners which I believed then and believe now is right as a limit.

“I never envisaged or intended to do a third term but with the complexities and risk introduced by Covid, the prospect of having an MP election at the time it was due was really difficult and so a third term made sense. Those risks have passed, the firm is in great shape and so there is no better time to find my successor.”

He added: “It has been a great privilege to serve as managing partner, and I am immensely proud of our achievements over the last decade.

“The firm is immeasurably different and stronger to the business I inherited and having achieved everything I thought was possible and more I am delighted to leave the business in excellent health and ready for the next generation of partners to grow and develop.”