Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has announced new Global Disputes leadership effective **1 December 2026**. Its [official announcement, dated 2 November 2026](https://www.hsfkramer.com/news/2026-11/hsf-kramer-appoints-new-global-disputes-leadership), names London partner Alexander Oddy as the next Managing Partner, Disputes, UK and EMEA.
Oddy succeeds Paul Lewis, who has returned to full-time practice. Kerri Ann Law and Benjamin Rubinstein will become Co-Managing Partners, Disputes, US, succeeding Paul Schoeman. Schoeman will continue as Executive Partner, US. The new leadership roles take effect in December, not on the November announcement date.
Why it matters
For London commercial-litigation candidates researching the firm, the update identifies the incoming leadership of the UK and EMEA disputes practice. It is an internal leadership-succession announcement, not a lateral-hiring story. The candidate relevance is practice-leadership visibility; the release does not establish additional headcount, recruitment opportunities or salary changes.