New Senior Partner for BDB

Bircham Dyson Bell residential and leasehold reform head John Stephenson has taken over as the firm’s senior partner from today.

Stephenson succeeds Ian McCulloch for a three-year term after an uncontested election.

McCulloch decided to step down from the position after 13 years in the role and will return to full-time fee-earning.

Stephenson commented: “I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity by the partners and hope that I can live up to the very high standards set by Ian McCulloch during his tenure, for which the partnership owes him an enormous debt of gratitude.

“The legal sector faces challenges ahead not just from a slow economic recovery, but from the structural changes that could result from the Legal Services Act. But these challenges will also present opportunities and I look forward to working with Guy Vincent, our managing partner, and the management team to ensure that Bircham Dyson Bell is well placed to take advantage of any opportunities which will grow and strengthen the firm.”

The role of managing partner is also up for election later this year.