Berrymans Lace Mawer has elected a new senior partner as long-running chief Terry Renouf steps down.

Renouf will be replaced by healthcare practice co-head and Manchester partner Mike Brown (pictured) from 2 April 2012.

Brown has been handed a three-year term following an election last month and will continue as healthcare practice co-head alongside his new role.

Renouf has been Berrymans' senior partner since 2006, having served two terms in the role. He will return to fee-earning in the firm in the London insurance practice.

Brown said: "One of my priorities is to ensure that Berrymans continues to follow a clear strategic path leading to new opportunities in a changing legal market place. I welcome the challenges that lie ahead. I know from my time on the management board that we have talented people at Berrymans. I have every confidence that we will continue to grow and be successful."

"I will ensure that we continue to provide a first class service to our clients, and if this can be improved or enhanced then so much the better."

During his term Renouf launched new offices for the firm in Cardiff and Bristol in 2007 and 2010 respectively.

The insurance firm announced double-digit increases in both revenues and profits last year, with profits per equity partner (PEP) soaring upwards by almost a third. Revenue for the 2010-11 financial year stood at £78.8m, a 12% increase on its 2009-10 figure of £70.4m, while PEP jumped to £293,000, a 32% increase on the £222,000 posted the previous year.