Norton Rose managing partner Roger Birkby is to head a new programme to tighten relations with the firm's top 30 international clients after stepping down as leader of the firm in June.

Birkby – who will be replaced as managing partner by new CEO Peter Martyr – will take a three-month leave of absence from the firm before beginning his new role this autumn.

The programme will focus on the firm's top international clients and also target smaller clients that are critical to the firm's various industry sector strengths such as shipping and energy.

Top global clients of the firm include HSBC, Taylor Woodrow, France Telecom, Siemens and Eni.
"The decision is related to the internationalisation of our business strategy and management structure," Birkby told Legal Week.

"Peter Martyr has made it clear that our international network is very much top of his agenda and a key client programme will help facilitate that."

He added: "We want to provide a consistent quality of service for our clients wherever we work for them in the world."

As revealed by Legal Week (31 January), Norton Rose has made the creation of a new corporate-style management structure its top priority in order to drive ahead its global expansion.

Martyr comfortably saw off competition from litigation head Peter Rees and global projects head Jeff Barratt on a first vote to elect the CEO last week (16 April) and he will shortly appoint a new deputy CEO.

An executive board comprising individual office managing partners and two newly-created global heads – one each from banking and corporate finance – will be finalised shortly alongside two non-management candidates who will be elected from the partnership.