Dentons’ global board of directors and global advisory committee have elected the next global CEO, who joins from EY, where she was most recently the global vice chair.

New global CEO Kate Barton will join Dentons in September this year to begin a “meaningful handover period” with Portnoy, who has been in the role since Denton’s launch in 2013, before his term ends on 9 November. Barton will then start her term as global CEO on 10 November.

Previously, Barton held multiple leadership roles over a 35-year career at big four firm EY, which operates in 150 countries. In addition to being global vice chair, she was also CEO of tax, law, and people advisory services, which had a global workforce of 70,000 professionals and generated revenues of more than $11 billion under her leadership.

“I have watched Dentons redefine the legal services landscape with its pioneering business strategy and client offerings. Under Elliott’s leadership, this firm has differentiated itself with its polycentric approach and integrated cross-border and multidisciplinary client engagements, proving that uniting and operating as one firm is far more impactful,” Barton said of her new appointment.

“I am looking forward to working with Elliott on a transition and to collaborating with Dentons’ accomplished regional leadership to continue challenging industry norms and adapting to the ever-changing world of technology and innovation faced by law firms and professional service firms around the world in order to deliver excellence for the benefit of our people and our clients.”

This news comes after the firm added two partners and promoted 17 in Australia earlier this month, as well as a number of new additions to the firm as it grows its presence across the country, including the addition of a banking and finance partner from Baker McKenzie in April, the appointment of two employment and safety partners and a team of nine from Kennedys in March, the appointment of a special counsel from Corrs Chambers Westgarth as a new banking and finance partner in its Melbourne office in mid-February, its hiring of employment partner Edmund Burke from Holding Redlich in January, technology partner Michael Park from Allens in December 2023, and the hiring of planning and environment partner Mitchell Osborne from AJ & Co Lawyers in Brisbane in mid-October 2023.

Under Portnoy’s leadership, Dentons has seen significant growth and now operates in 167 locations across 82 countries.

“Kate has extensive experience in leading a complex and global professional service organisation and has an outstanding skill set in managing people, processes and systems. Her successful client service experience, coupled with her thoughtful approach to integration, make her the ideal individual to lead our firm,” Portnoy said.

VIEW ALL

“She has my unqualified support, and I am confident she will lead Dentons from strength to even greater strength and success.”

Dentons Australia chair and Australasia region CEO Doug Stipanicev thanked Portnoy for his leadership over the last decade and welcomed Barton to the firm.

“I stand with Dentons in expressing our deepest gratitude to our outgoing global CEO, Elliott Portnoy, whose visionary leadership has significantly contributed to our global and local success. We are equally excited to welcome our incoming global CEO Kate Barton, whose illustrious professional service journey spanning three and a half decades brings proven strategic and transformative promise that will extend to our services within Australia and Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“This transition marks not just a continuation, but an elevation of Dentons’ dedication to providing innovative legal solutions, fostering growth, and delivering value to our clients across the Asia-Pacific region.”

Lauren Croft

Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.