Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is set to appoint a committee of partners to oversee the magic circle firm's impending lockstep shake-up.

Between six and eight partners will be appointed to the so-called 'Gates' committee, which will oversee decisions made by practice heads and regional heads about partners' progress through the firm's new lockstep.

The appointments will be made in the coming weeks, ahead of the new lockstep coming into effect on 1 May – a move that will see every partner in the firm assessed and repositioned on a new extended ladder that runs from 12-60 points, with gates at 22, 30 and 40 points.

The new ladder is intended to make it easier for the firm to monitor progress and free up points to better reward star performers, and should bring pay for a handful of top earners to more than £3m.

Former partners suggest that a number of partners with less profitable practices have already been warned that they face cuts to their remuneration as part of the overhaul, with exits expected as a consequence.

The majority of partners will receive fewer points on the new rebased ladder; however, for most, any reduction in points will be balanced out by the increased value of a point on the new ladder compared to the old, which ran from 17.5 to 50 points, with a second tier ladder running from 10 to 30 points in less profitable jurisdictions.

With only a handful of exceptional partners to be allowed through the final 40-point gateway, some of those partners currently sitting at top of the lockstep are expected to see remuneration cut, however.

One partner said: "People are being asked to move down based on practice areas and offices. Nobody has been moved down yet, but people have had some indication as to what the potential outcomes might be."

One former partner said the introduction of the oversight committee was the "logical direction of travel".

"If you want a more flexible and responsive compensation system, you need people who will evaluate your contribution on an ongoing basis," they said.

The committee will only normally get involved when partners reach a gateway, as progress between the gates should continue as standard each year.

One former partner said: "The maths means that if everyone goes down in points by 20%, given that the number who go into super points will be minimal, it shouldn't have a significant impact on general remuneration as the value per point should increase."

However, they added that the move "hadn't been met with universal joy and laughter" and that "you may see some CVs appear on the market" as a result.

Freshfields declined to comment.