Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed four new partners as mentors for its 2011 London trainee intake.

Dispute resolution partner Nigel Rawding and antitrust partner Andrea Gomes da Silva will mentor the February intake, with corporate partner Tim Wilmot and structured finance partner Flora McLean set to look after the August intake.

The mentors will be available to discuss any issues arising during the two-year training contract including seat moves, secondments and qualification. They are not responsible for directly assessing the trainees.

Freshfields launched the scheme in February last year in response to trainee feedback requesting more contact with partners.

Trainee partner Simon Johnson (pictured) said: "We have introduced more meaningful mentoring for our trainees over the past year. Every trainee now has a specific partner with whom they can discuss seat moves, secondments, qualification options and any other issues they might have on a confidential basis.

"The introduction of our trainee intake partners last year was really successful, so we're excited to continue it this year and going forward."

The firm also split the trainee function within its human resources department into two separate roles – trainee recruitment and trainee development – last year, with UK trainee recruitment head Lizi Cope and trainee development head Rosanna Brancazio set to continue in these positions for 2011.

Separately, Freshfields' partners and employees will now be asked to give information about their socio-economic background in a bid to extend the firm's census.