Who is Baker McKenzie’s new global chair

Baker McKenzie has selected Sunny Mann (pictured) to serve as its new worldwide chairman, marking a transition in leadership from Asia to Europe. Mann, who currently leads the firm’s international trade practice, will assume the role in October for a four-year tenure.

The appointment represents a shift in the firm’s geographical leadership center, moving from Hong Kong, where outgoing chairman Milton Cheng is located, to London, where Mann is based. Cheng has held the position since 2019, when he stepped in following Paul Rawlinson’s passing.

With a quarter-century tenure at Baker McKenzie, Mann brings extensive experience advising major corporations, including companies from the FTSE 100 and Fortune 100 indices, on regulatory compliance matters. His expertise spans export control regulations, trade sanctions, and anti-corruption legislation. Throughout his career, Mann has worked across multiple Baker McKenzie locations, including offices in Washington DC, New York, Sydney, and Hong Kong.

Mann has also played a key role in the firm’s strategic initiatives, leading its geopolitical risks taskforce and coordinating client support during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Changes in the management structure

The leadership transition coincides with changes to Baker McKenzie’s global management structure. Starting July 1, 2025, the global management committee will feature regional leaders Alex Chadwick (EMEA), Colin Murray (Americas), and Steven Sieker (Asia Pacific), alongside partners from key markets including Scott Brandman and Pamela Church from New York, Amar Budarapu from Dallas, and representatives from Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, London, Hong Kong, and Frankfurt.

Reflecting on his new role, Mann expressed appreciation for the outgoing leadership and enthusiasm for collaborating with the firm’s 13,000 professionals across more than 70 global offices, emphasizing the organization’s collective international capabilities.

Under Cheng’s leadership, Baker McKenzie experienced significant expansion, becoming the first Asia-based chairman in the firm’s history. The organization’s annual revenue surpassed $3 billion for the first time in 2021, reaching $3.4 billion by June 2024, compared to $2.92 billion in fiscal year 2019.

Cheng praised the firm’s accomplishments over his six-year tenure and expressed confidence in Mann’s ability to drive continued growth while maintaining the organization’s fundamental principles.