CMS has made a number of changes to its top-level structure as executive partner Dick Tyler prepares to return to practice at UK member firm CMS Cameron McKenna this summer.

Among a series of appointments, the nine-member network of European firms has promoted operations director Matthew Gorman to the executive partner role, while Cornelius Brandi has been re-elected as the chairman of CMS's executive committee.

Brandi will take on a new four-year term running until 30 June 2015. He was first appointed in 2008 for a three-year term.

Former Camerons managing partner Tyler is returning to practise at the UK top 20 firm this year after two years working on CMS's convergence programme, which was set out in 2008.

The changes, which follow a governance review, will see Gorman will take on part of Tyler's role, including leading the CMS Legal Services team in Frankfurt, as well as taking responsibility for executing CMS's strategy.

Tyler (pictured) said: "It has been a privilege to serve as executive partner. In 2008, I set the objective of completing the key convergence projects and taking CMS to the next level in its development. With the help of some very talented people, I am proud that we have met that objective."

The 18-member executive committee has two members from each of the nine firms, including the managing partners of each firm. Camerons is represented by managing partner Duncan Weston and corporate tax partner Mark Nichols.

Before the secondment, Tyler was a corporate partner at Camerons and was managing partner of the firm from 2000 to 2008.

For more, see Dick Tyler: Reflections on City law's success.