Stephenson Harwood's Paris office is being run from London by the firm's CEO following a "revolt" by the French partnership, sources claim, although the firm maintains that everything is fine.

Insiders report that Paris managing partner Alain Gautron was "unceremoniously dropped" after partners in the office threatened to leave the firm. It is now being run from London by Sharon White, Stephenson Harwood's chief executive. It is not known why the French partners are uppity, but RollOnFriday understands that White was compelled to take charge because the French partnership was unable to agree upon a replacement for Gautron.

    "I cannot 'ear 'er very well, but I zink she eez shouting at us to, oui - 'grow up'?"

However, a Stephenson Harwood spokeswoman told RollOnFriday that Gautron's term was due to end in July and that he has now "expressed a wish to focus his energy and enthusiasm on client work rather than continue for a second term". She said he was, "a great lawyer with a very successful practice and he's happy to be spending more time with his clients and less on day-to-day management and its corresponding paperwork!" She confirmed that White is acting as the Paris managing partner "for now at least".

Gautron joined Stephenson Harwood in 2010 from Norton Rose Fulbright and headed up the Paris office for three years, bulking out the partnership with lateral hires. It now comprises seven partners and ten associates, and a boss 258 miles away. Hopefully nausea-prone UK trainees won't have to carry messages between them.
 
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Comments

Roll On Friday 06 November 15 08:51

"It is not known why the French partners are uppity".
The clue is, I feel, in the word "French".

Anonymous 07 November 15 02:23

So, asked for a comment, a spokeswoman from the Damage Limitation Department said: "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah". Translated, that means, yes, the guy's not at all popular so we had to remove him as managing partner. Odd that the firm refers to a "term" for the role, which doesn't apply to any of the other offices. I worked with him at another firm and he's deeply divisive.

Anonymous 07 November 15 02:32

An unhappy ship isn't going to stay afloat too long. Rumours are that most firms in the Paris market have CVs on the table from the partners and associates from this firm.