Linklaters is overhauling its international board, with eight of the 14 elected members on the oversight body set to be replaced.

These include London partners David Ereira and Charlie Jacobs, who won seats to represent the finance and corporate departments respectively in 2009 and are likely to be replaced at the end of the financial year.

Tokyo co-managing partner Andrew Carmichael, who was appointed three years ago to represent Asia, is also giving up his seat due to his scheduled return to London.

All of the new appointments, which require confirmation by a partnership vote, are for three years. Partners are permitted to serve a maximum of two terms on the board. In 2009 the firm made five changes, with just two made in 2006.

News of the shake-up comes after managing partner Simon Davies last month failed to achieve the 75% majority vote required to secure his reappointment as managing partner due to a protest by partners unhappy with management decisions.

One London partner said: "The focus has shifted from criticising Simon to criticising the board – partners feel that some of the decisions made by the oversight body have been misguided and are calling for top-level changes."

The board comprises 16 members, including Davies and senior partner Robert Elliott. There are 14 elected positions, with seven partners representing the firm's main regional practices and the remaining seven representing its core practice areas.