Kemp Little has overhauled its management structure and appointed litigation head Paul Garland to the first-time role of executive partner.

Garland was appointed to the position earlier this month following the announcement that current managing partner Lucy Vernall is set to leave Kemp Little to take up a role as GC for online loan company Wonga.com in April this year.

The firm is also currently in the process of hiring a chief operating officer (COO) for the first time, which will see management at Kemp Little handled by senior partner Richard Kemp, Garland and the new COO.

The trio will head up the technology-specialist firm alongside the management board, which is made up of practice heads at the firm.

Garland said: "We are looking to build on the great work Lucy has done as managing partner and ensure that we have the best possible management structure in place to take the firm forwards.

"We are growing and need to ensure that our lawyers, and therefore our clients, get the best support possible from our core services teams. We see recruiting a non-lawyer COO, to work alongside a full time fee-earner acting as executive partner as the best way to achieve our strategy."

Garland has been a partner and head of litigation since joining Kemp Little in 2007 from White & Case.