Georgia Dawson re-elected to lead Freshfields for new 5-year term

Freshfields has re-elected Georgia Dawson for a second term as senior partner, backing her as she continues to drive the firm’s international expansion strategy - particularly in the US.

Dawson, who made history when she was elected as the firm’s first female senior partner in 2020, will begin her next five-year term in January 2026 after a partner vote that showed "strong support" for her leadership, according to Freshfields.

She will continue working alongside global managing partners Alan Mason and Rick van Aerssen, with co-managing partner Rafique Bachour stepping back from his leadership role at the end of his term.

US expansion

Since taking the helm, Dawson has led an ambitious international growth strategy, with a particular focus on building out Freshfields’ US business. That's included a wave of high-profile lateral hires which have brought some standout mandates and stronger growth than any of its Magic Circle peers. The firm opened its latest US office in Boston earlier this year.

Dawson oversaw the major rebrand that went live last September, dropping "Bruckhaus Deringer" and the firm’s historic angel emblem in a move widely seen as aimed at increasing appeal to US clients.

Earlier this year, meanwhile, Freshfields stood out as the only member of the global legal elite to break ranks and take a public stand against Donald Trump’s executive orders against Big Law, joining over 500 firms signing an amicus brief in support of Perkins Coie.

What they said

Dawson said: "It’s a privilege to continue serving as Senior Partner and I’m proud of the progress we have made to date.

"With strong momentum behind us, we’re refining what works and picking up the pace where we can do more, drawing on the strength of our global, multi-disciplinary platform.

"Alongside Alan and Rick, our ambition remains clear: to be the firm of the future, agile, principled and relentlessly focused on helping our clients succeed."