Allen & Overy Corporate partner David Wootton has been installed as the 684th Lord Mayor of the City of London and officially takes office during the Silent Ceremony being held in the City today.

The annually-elected Lord Mayor is the head of the City of London Corporation and acts during the year as global ambassador for the whole UK-based financial services industry.

David has been a corporate partner at Allen & Overy LLP since 1979. He is involved in corporate finance transactions generally and, in particular, mergers and acquisitions, flotations, public and private takeovers, joint ventures and corporate governance. He was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Langbourn in 2005 and has been President of the City of London Law Society and is Chairman of the City of London Branch of the Institute of Directors and an Honorary Bencher of Grays Inn.

Commenting on his election, David said: "Having spent the past 30 years working with a variety of UK and international businesses I've had first hand experience of the growth and importance of the UK as a major economic centre. In recent times the City has witnessed a period of unprecedented change, as has the wider global economy, so the theme for my year in office is ensuring that the City and its institutions are fit for the future.

"It is easy to regard the City as solely about financial services and only looking outside the UK but this is far from the case. In addition to creating huge economic value both domestically and across Europe, it makes a major contribution to a wide range of activities from education, opportunities, training and skills to charity work. The Square Mile is part of the UK domestic community and we need to show that it is."