DLA Piper is overhauling its management in the northwest as the firm moves to dismiss ongoing speculation over the future of its Manchester base.

Manchester head David Gray, who also leads the firm's UK litigation and regulatory group, is stepping down on 31 December after four years as office manager, and will be replaced by finance and projects partner Liam Cowell.

The news comes shortly after Gray (pictured) recently called a number of informal staff meetings to reiterate the firm's intention to retain a presence in the city. As well as outlining the office's long-term strategy, the sessions gave DLA staff the opportunity to quiz Gray on the direction of the office, which has seen a significant number of partner departures over the last 18 months.

Following a spate of exits, the office now houses 20 core Manchester-based partners with around eight others splitting their time between Manchester and other locations. Although DLA declined to confirm exact figures, Legal Week understands the office had more than 40 partners at the start of the 2011-12 financial year.

Notable departures include Graeme Orchison (IP) and Stuart Campbell (commercial) to TLT, Andrew Harris (litigation) to DWF, Tim Buckingham (financial disputes) to Eversheds, and a four-partner real estate team led by Anita Weightman to Irwin Mitchell.

The firm's Manchester lawyers are currently spread across two offices in Barbirolli Square; however, with the leases due to expire in three years' time, the firm is currently in the process of identifying new office space in the city.

Meanwhile, Liverpool office managing partner Philip Rooney is also standing down from his role and will be replaced by employment partner Ben Miller as of 1 August. Real estate partner Rooney, who has led the Liverpool office for nine years, will return to a full-time client-facing role.

The firm said both Gray and Rooney were involved in the process to select their successors and, as the roles are not elected, no fixed terms will apply. Gray will continue to lead the UK litigation and regulatory group.

UK managing partner Mark O'Conor commented: "The northwest is a critical and successful part of DLA Piper's business and we're delighted to be introducing two talented and ambitious lawyers to our management team."

The news comes after DLA last year completed a review of its UK business, which saw its Glasgow office closed at the end of April. The closure saw 45 staff made redundant, with the remaining 30 transferred to Edinburgh on a trial basis. The firm is also centralising its 116-staff document production team in Leeds, with small teams set to remain based at each of the firm's other UK offices.