Clifford Chance securitisation partner Ian Bell is to become chief european counsel at Standard & Poor's.

The new position was created in part as a response to the Euro and the increased importance of credit ratings throughout Europe.

Bell is likely to join in March and will answer to Joanne Rose, New York based senior managing director and general counsel.

Sally Birchenoff has moved from Deutsche Morgan Grenfell to Lehman Brothers as a director in transaction management.

New partners
Weil Gotshal & Manges has made up three partners. Asset finance specialist Mark Western, who joined the firm two years ago from Freshfields, becomes a partner as does Christian Smith who is ex-Morgan Stanley and ex-Allen & Overy tax specialist Andrew Norwood.

Manches has appointed four new partners this month. Litigation lawyer David March makes the grade as does corporate financier Matthew Martin, employment lawyer Julian Taylor and family lawyer William Massey.

New employment law firm Jones & Warner has recruited Jennie Way from Warner Cranston. The firm was set up six months ago by ex-Warner Cranston partners David Warner and Michael Jones. Wade, now a partner, will work two and a half days a week.

Promotions
IT specialist John Yates has become managing partner of Rotherham-based firm Oxley & Coward. Yates, who joined the firm from Theodore Goddard six years ago, has presided over the firm's growing IT practice, which now accounts for one third of the firm's turnover.

US firm Mayer Brown & Platt has appointed UK partner Ian Coles to run its London office.

PR appointments
Sandra Hewett Media Relations has been appointed to represent Arthur Andersen law firm Garretts as well as South East firm Thomas Eggar Church Adams.

PR consultancy Fishburn Hedges has won the Eversheds national and London account.