Baker McKenzie has elected two new members to its Global Executive Committee.
San Francisco-based Joyce Smith, International Commercial Partner and Chair of the California International Commercial Group, joins the Executive Committee and the North America Regional Council, while Peerapan Tungsuwan, Corporate / M&A Partner and Head of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group in Bangkok, joins the Executive Committee and the Asia Pacific Regional Council.
Esteban Raventos, a Tax partner based in Barcelona, has also had his term as a member of the Executive Committee extended by one year.
Joyce and Peerapan will assume their roles in October at Baker McKenzie's Annual Meeting, and will replace Michael Wong and Michael Santa Maria, who will both be concluding their four-year Executive Committee terms.
Commenting on the new appointments, Milton Cheng, Global Chair, Baker McKenzie, said:
"Our new Executive Committee members bring with them a wealth of experience and deep expertise in our core areas of focus, namely Healthcare and Technology. Joyce and Peerapan are highly respected as experts in their industries with a host of professional honors to their names. We are all very much looking forward to working with them, as their perspectives and insights will be incredibly valuable in implementing the actions we've prioritized in our strategy as a Firm."
"I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Michael Wong and Michael Santa Maria on behalf of the entire Firm for their leadership over the past four years; a period that has seen much uncertainty, challenge and change. Their collaboration and teamwork has been unwavering."
Baker McKenzie's Global Executive Committee includes partner representatives covering all regions, with responsibility for developing and implementing global strategy and managing the Firm's day-to-day business across all of the Firm's offices worldwide.