Hogan Lovells has made a number of changes to its senior management positions ahead of Steve Immelt assuming the lone chief executive role.

The shake-up will see the end of Hogan Lovells' dual head structure for practice group chiefs, established at the time of the firm's creation four years ago.

Immelt, currently head of the firm's litigation, arbitration and employment group, will be replaced by Michael Davsion when he takes on the main leadership role on 1 July.

David Hudd will step down from the role of finance practice group head to become deputy CEO. He is being replaced by Paris-based finance partner Sharon Lewis.

Baltimore partner David Gibbons will become the firm's new  corporate chief, replacing current co-heads Andrew Skipper and Stuart Stein.

The changes will also result in a shake-up of Hogan Lovells' International Management Committee (IMC) – the body responsible for setting the firm's global strategy. The IMC is made up of the heads of Hogan Lovells' five practice groups and five administrative regions.

Among its regional managers, Dennis Tracey will be stepping down as managing partner for the Americas and  will be replaced by Denver-based Cole Finegan. Finegan is currently a board member and there will be an election for his replacement.

Meanwhile, Christoph Kueppers will be stepping down from the role of Continental Europe head, to be replaced by Madrid-based Burkhart Goebel.

The changes take effect as Immelt prepares to take over as CEO from co-leaders Warren Gorrell and David Harris. Harris will be retiring from the firm while Gorrell will return to client work after 30 June 2014. The rest of the committee's members will remain in their roles.

Immelt said: "I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to those members of the IMC who are stepping down for their considerable contribution, in many cases stretching back a significant number of years.

"The changes that I am making are designed to build on what we have achieved under the leadership of David and Warren. They are designed to reinforce the foundations for the continued growth and development of the firm."

The IMC leadership team in full:

• CEO – Steve Immelt
• Deputy CEO – David Hudd
• Corporate head – David Gibbons
• Finance head – Sharon Lewis
• Gov Reg head – Agnes Dover
• IPMT head – Andreas von Falck
• Litigation, arbitration and employment head – Michael Davison
• Americas regional head – Cole Finegan
• Asia/Middle East head- Patrick Sherrington
• Continental Europe managing partner – Burkhart Goebel
• UK and Africa managing partner – Susan Bright
• Washington DC managing partner – Emily Yinger