Given that an Ashurst LLP partner has been elected as chair, the position of vice-chair will only be open to candidates from Ashurst Australia. Elections for the position of vice-chair and the board will take place shortly; three legacy members of Ashurst Australia will also be elected to sit on the new board.

Tidswell (pictured) joined Ashurst in 1993 and has been a partner in the London-based dispute resolution team since 2000, specialising in complex commercial litigation. He has particular expertise in finance disputes and regularly acts for major financial institutions. He also specialises in antitrust litigation and telecommunications and media disputes.

Tidswell was a member and chair of the firm’s New Partners Committee from 2004 to 2007 and has been a board member of Ashurst LLP since 2007.

Welcoming the appointment, Ashurst’s global managing partner, James Collis, commented: “On behalf of the partnership, I congratulate Ben on his appointment. Ben has considerable leadership skills. As a board member of Ashurst LLP for the last six years, and chair of the New Partners Committee prior to that, he has made a significant contribution to the firm and its strategy.

“He will make an exceptional chair and help us drive our ambition to become a global elite law firm."

Tidswell commented: “I am delighted to be elected by my partners at this exciting time for the firm.  I look forward to working with James and his team, the board and all of my colleagues around the world, to capitalise on all the significant opportunities we have as a firm. It is a privilege to be able to help the firm to build on its many achievements as it embarks on this next stage in its development.”

The announcement of the new chair comes just weeks after the full financial integration of the firm was overwhelmingly approved by both partnerships; from 1 November Ashurst will introduce a single profit pool allocated on a managed lock-step system.

The vote on full financial integration, which was initially scheduled for 2014, was brought forward by six months and was exactly two years after the merger was first approved by partners from Blake Dawson and Ashurst.

The board of the integrated firm will comprise of 14 members; as well as Tidswell, other already appointed board members include: Collis, CFO Brian Dunlop and independent board members Robert Gillespie and David Turner.