Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has appointed Kate Barton of Big Four group EY as the company’s next global managing director.

Barton joins from EY, where she spent 35 years of her career and held various leadership positions in the US, most recently as Global Vice Chair.

She will succeed Elliott Portnoy, founder and CEO of Global Societies, who has led the firm since 2013 following the merger of Salans, Fraser Milner Casgrain (FMC) and SNR Denton to form Dentons.

Under his leadership, Dentons has experienced significant growth as the firm serves clients in 167 locations in 82 countries.

Barton will join Dentons in early September to begin a transition period with Portnoy, whose term ends on November 9, 2024. She will assume her new role on November 10.

Barton led several businesses at EY, including CEO of tax, legal and HR advisory services, which employed 70,000 people worldwide and generated revenues of over $11 billion (£8.5 billion).

Among other things, she has helped transform EY’s global tax practice through strategic investments in people, technology, global shared service centers, best-in-class practices and processes, and M&A activities.

The process to appoint the global CEO was led by Gerald Singham, Chair of Dentons’ Global Talent and Governance Committee, with support from the firm’s Global Board of Directors and Global Advisory Committee.

The announcement noted that this process considered both internal and external candidates from all regions.

Of her new role, Barton said: “I have watched Dentons redefine the legal services landscape with its groundbreaking business strategy and client offerings.”

She explained: “Under Elliott’s leadership, Dentons has differentiated itself from the competition through its polycentric approach and integrated cross-border and multidisciplinary client relationships, proving that combining and operating as a single firm has far greater impact.”

Portnoy added: “Kate has extensive experience leading a complex and global professional services organization and possesses outstanding skills in managing people, processes and systems.”

“Her successful customer service experience, coupled with her thoughtful integration approach, make her the ideal person to lead our company,” he added.