Mann succeeds Milton Cheng, who steps down after almost six years in the role
London-based international trade practice group global chair Sunny Mann has been announced as the incoming global chair of international firm Baker McKenzie.
Mann succeeds Milton Cheng, who steps down after almost six years in the role. Mann takes the helm in October and will be global chair for the next four years. He also joins the firm's global management committee.
Mann has worked across Baker McKenzie's Washington DC, New York, Sydney, and Hong Kong offices since he commenced with the firm in 2000. In addition to leading the international practice trade group, he heads up the firm's geopolitical risks taskforce and spearheaded Baker McKenzie's support of clients responding to Ukraine's invasion by Russia.
The team guided about a quarter of each of the Fortune 100, FTSE 100, CAC 40, and DAX 40 communities on geopolitical disruption, Baker McKenzie said. It also responded to the current trade and tariff battles.
"It is an immense privilege to have been elected by my fellow partners to the role of global chair in our great firm. Over its 75 years’ history, our firm made its name supporting clients to navigate cross-border complexity. Given the levels of change and market disruption we are now witnessing around the world, I am confident that with our unparalleled international reach, there is no firm better placed to support clients navigate the complex and turbulent demands of our current global climate," Mann said in a statement.
Cheng, who was the first Asian to become global chair at Baker McKenzie, confirmed that he would be working closely with Mann in the coming months to facilitate a smooth transition.
"I am extremely proud of what we have achieved for our clients and our people in the past six years. I am excited for the years to come and have no doubt Sunny will take Baker McKenzie to even greater heights, leveraging an impeccable track-record in building and leading a successful practice while championing our core values," Cheng said.
As of July 1, the Baker McKenzie global management committee will consist of Mann, regional chief executives Alex Chadwick (EMEA), Colin Murray (Americas) and Steven Sieker (Asia Pacific); and partners Scott Brandman (New York), Amar Budarapu (Dallas), Pamela Church (New York), Matthew Dening (Riyadh), Andre Gan (Kuala Lumpur), Karen Guch (London), Isabella Liu (Hong Kong), and Christian Vocke (Frankfurt).
