Worldwide management shake-up at Herbert Smith

Herbert Smith is shaking up its worldwide management and London offices after a firm-wide review of its management structure by senior partner Richard Bond.

A spokesman said Herbert Smith partners voted overwhelmingly in favour of implementing Mr Bonds reforms which promise to give the firms international offices a greater say in management.

The structure will come into effect on 1 July.

Currently, Herbert Smith has a partnership council, headed by Mr Bond, to deal with strategy, and an executive, under Tim Parkes dealing with day-to-day matters.

But to reflect international reach, the roles of Asia managing partner David Willis and Paris managing partner Neil Brimson will be enhanced, although it is unclear where they will fit in.

It is understood that the structure was reviewed to take into account the growing size of the firm, both in terms of mass and international reach.From July, overall direction and business strategy will continue to be determined by the partnership council.

But the executive is to be replaced by a management committee, still under the leadership of Mr Parkes.

The management committee will fill essentially the same role as the current executive.

Both the new management and practice development committees will report to the partnership council.

Practice development partner Richard Fleck will be charged with formulating business strategy and international business development.The London office will be overhauled after divisional and departmental heads are appointed in spring.Mr Bond said: I am very pleased with the outcome of the review which I think addresses the needs of the firm as we move forward into our next phase of development.

The new structure takes account of the need to be able to act swiftly in a fast-moving environment to exploit opportunities, while recognising that the firm remains a partnership owned by its partners.

The next two months will be a period of implementation while the new structure is put in place.Anne Mizzi