Gowling WLG is on the hunt for a new general counsel after incumbent Eddie Breen announced his intention to step down.
Breen joined legacy Wragge & Co 22 years ago and has guided the firm through its mergers with London firm Lawrence Graham & Co and Canadian giant Gowlings. He told the firm in October he will resign this year.
Often law firms look to replace general counsel from within their own partnership but Gowling WLG has opened the application process up to external candidates. Breen will work with the firm’s chief executive David Fennell in the hiring process.
Breen said: “We’re looking not just outside of the firm but also to other professional services firms and outside of law firms generally.
“People in other professional firms or other sectors of business and commerce may have experience, which would be valuable within a leading international firm like ours. One of the benefits I had from having a life before being a lawyer is that I looked at the world from another perspective so we thought we would put the net a bit wider.”
Applications are being accepted from lawyers with at least 15 years’ PQE and who have worked within a professional service firm or another related regulatory sector.
The role will involve advising the firm on a range of legal and commercial issues such as complaints, litigation, potential reputational risks and major commercial contracts.
The successful candidate will take up the role in August and work with Breen over a two month handover period.
Breen is stepping down from the role in order to pursue activities outside of private practice, including charity work for REACH.