Olswang has overhauled its management structure, with the firm dropping its managing partner position and electing current post-holder David Stewart as chief executive officer.

Stewart will take over the chief executive position from Kevin Munslow on 1 May. Munslow, who has served as chief executive since 2007, intends to go on sabbatical before returning to Olswang as a consultant.

Partners have also re-elected Mark Devereux as the UK top 50 firm's senior partner as part of the voting process, which closed earlier this week.

The overhaul will also see Olswang split its commercial group into two. Former commercial group head Michael Burdon will head the newly-created intellectual property (IP) practice, while telecoms practice head Rob Bratby will head the commercial group, which includes the media, communications and technology and competition sub-groups.

Stewart said: "IP has grown to a size that makes it appropriate for it to have separate management, not least because it has a very clear strategy to grow more in the near future.

"The title CEO better reflects the role I am going to undertake over the next three years, as we move to mirror our clients more and dedicate all that we do to the goal of creating deep and long-lasting client relationships that give lasting value to both the client and Olswang."

Fabrizio Carpanini, Moni Mannings and Martin Davies have all been re-elected to their roles as heads of the corporate, finance and litigation groups respectively.

The firm is expected to decide on a replacement for real estate head Tim Westhead in the coming weeks following his decision to step down after 12 years in the role.

All of the appointments will run for a three-year term starting on 1 May 2010.