White & Case will overhaul its lawyer development programme globally, with the US law firm reviewing associate and partner training and how it monitors and rewards performance.

London-based Phil Donnelly, who joined in April from the Dubai Investment Company as chief people officer, is leading the review, which will take place over the coming months.

Donnelly, who spent 10 years in human resources at professional services firms including Ernst & Young, will initially be looking at associate and support staff development, including alternatives to partnership and flexible working initiatives.

Performance evaluation will also come under scrutiny, with Donnelly also expected to look at how to better align salary with individual performance.

Partner training and development will be reviewed after associate and support staff measures, with Donnelly keen to implement training initiatives at all levels. The firm already has programmes for new lateral partners but hopes to put mentoring schemes in place.

Donnelly told Legal Week:  "We need to make sure that all our people processes work effectively and professionally to ensure we are building from a strong platform. "

The initiative comes after White & Case announced job losses at all levels earlier this year in response to the recession.