Olswang has shaken up its governance structure to include a second management body to oversee the firm's operations.

The new eight-person executive committee, which will come into effect from 1 May, will handle firm strategy, sitting alongside an elected board that manages the firm's partnership. The structure replaces the firm's previous system of a single management board.

The changes were brought in after a five-month governance review overseen by partners and Deloitte private sector partner Richard Punt.

The executive committee, which will be chaired by re-elected chief executive officer David Stewart, comprises four other partners: corporate chief Fabrizio Carpanini, head of litigation Richard Bamforth, Madrid-based Spanish managing partner Javier Vasserot and Berlin-based German managing partner Christian Schede.

The group is rounded off by chief operating officer Simon Glynn, global human resouces director Ffion Griffith and general counsel and partnership secretary Simon Callander. Each committee member will hold their posts for three years.

Callander, who led the review, said: "While the firm's previous structure has served us well, the number of people participating had increased and the roles being performed had changed as the firm grew. Having had the opportunity to step back and review the whole thing, the new system offers a more efficient approach with greater clarity around roles and responsibility which will improve our decision making process."

Meanwhile, a new set of international practice group heads has been appointed to three-year terms. Partner Iain Stansfield has replaced Rob Bratby as head of commercial, following Bratby's appointment to the role of the firm's Asia managing partner in 2011.

Charles Kerrigan has succeeded Moni Mannings as head of finance, while Paul Stevens has taken over as head of intellectual property from Michael Burdon. Both Burdon and Mannings will return to full-time fee-earning, while real estate chief Gary Watson will retire, with Jonathan Lewis replacing him in the role.

Carpanini and Bamford will both continue in their respective roles as head of corporate and litigation.