The firm announced last week that Eduardo Leite has been elected the next chairman of the Firm’s Executive Committee.

Leite will take up the new role on 30 October, when he will succeed John Conroy, who has been in the role since 1998.

Conroy told the AM Law Daily, a US website: “There’s some additional excitement because we’ve never had a chair out of Latin America.”

The new top man is an energy, infrastructure projects, and mergers and acquisitions lawyer based in São Paulo. He heads the firm’s global energy, mining and infrastructure practice group and, since 2003, has been the managing partner of the four offices in Brazil.

Leite spent several years working in Baker & McKenzie’s Chicago and Miami offices.

The man himself said he is pleased to be taking on the top job when the firm is doing well financially.

“Our unparalleled global platform of offices, practices and expertise makes us a natural match for the business and legal needs of companies in all sectors at a time when global economies are increasingly interdependent.”

Leite pointed to change “transforming the business world”, noting how it is impacting the legal profession.

“As we have for more than 60 years, Baker & McKenzie will continue to lead and embrace that change, to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in meeting our clients' evolving needs. The fluent way in which we serve our clients is our greatest strength and will remain a critical success factor in the future.”

Commenting on the announcement, outgoing Conroy said: “I will be delighted to pass the baton in October to my good friend and colleague, Eduardo Leite. Having had the privilege to work closely with Eduardo over many years, I know that he is eminently well-qualified and a proven leader.”