To some, former Linklaters chief Tony Angel is the most successful law firm manager of a generation. During his ten-year tenure as managing partner of the Magic Circle firm, he transformed it from a London-based practice into a global, moneymaking powerhouse. But his critics claim he went too far in his quest to make Linklaters more businesslike, and that by placing a premium on profits and imposing a more tightly managed structure, he damaged the historic firm’s culture.
The partners at DLA Piper will soon discover which assessment of Angel rings true. Last October, the firm announced that the 59-year-old former tax attorney was coming out of retirement to become its new global cochairman and international senior partner. Angel, who will be making about $3 million a year for a three-year term, has been tasked with molding the global giant into a more streamlined, profitable, and cohesive entity.
