Linklaters is a limited liability partnership. Ultimately, it is our partners who make the firm’s long-term strategic decisions, guided by our boards and sub-committees.
Our boards
Our International Board (IB) is the firm's senior governance body – responsible for major decisions and making sure all partners are properly consulted. It is chaired by our senior partner and is made up of 15 partners, each representing a different part of the firm and each elected by their fellow partners.
Our Executive Committee (ExCom) is chaired by our firmwide managing partner, and is responsible to the IB for the sound management of the firm. It is responsible for key management decisions as well as for making recommendations to the IB. Its members include the senior leaders of the firm’s major regions and practices, along with the Global COO. These members are appointed by the firmwide managing partner, with the approval of the IB.
Both senior management boards vary the location of their board meetings, holding them in different Linklaters offices around the world.
They also operate through sub-committees that have authority over specific areas within the boards’ remits.
Our sub-committees
The IB has four sub-committees:
These sub-committees are made up of members of the IB, along with other relevant partners, directors and staff when necessary. The two exceptions are the Partner Election Committee, whose members are nominated and appointed by the IB, and the Corporate Responsibility Committee, which includes the CR champions from each region of the firm.
Our partners
Our partners make the decisions that are core to our business.
These include:
- electing the firm’s senior partner and firmwide managing partner
- electing other senior and management partners, new partners and partners hired from other firms
- agreeing mergers and significant joint ventures
- opening and closing offices
- approving changes to the principles of profit-sharing
- electing representatives to the IB
- making changes to the members’ agreement.
To help them make these decisions, the IB reviews proposals from ExCom. They then make recommendations to partners to help them vote. The IB members also have regular briefings with the partners in their parts of the firm.