US law firm Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson has appointed Justin Spendlove as its new worldwide managing partner - the first UK lawyer to hold such a role at a US firm. Based in London, Mr Spendlove has been with Fried Frank for less than a year, having joined as European managing partner in April 2004 from City firm Ashurst, where he was managing partner. He will take over the new role in March, for a five-year term. Fried Frank currently has around 520 lawyers spread across New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Paris and Frankfurt.