Justin D'Agostino, Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills has rolled out a new leadership structure, cutting the size of its executive group and devolving more management to practices and regions.

Six partners now sit on the executive committee compared with around 10 previously. The firm has also introduced a new managing partner role for its Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

The changes have been introduced by Justin D'Agostino, who took on the role of chief executive at the firm at the start of the month.

The new executive group consists of D'Agostino, new executive leaders Ian Cox, Andrew Pike and Alison Brown, chief operating officer Nicole Bamforth, and chief financial officer Steve Bowers.

Cox has held several leadership roles at HSF, including most recently as executive partner for the U.K. and Europe, Middle East and Africa. He is now executive partner for practices, with the firm's managing partners for its six global practice groups reporting to him.

Pike, who currently leads the Australia region for the firm and chairs its Asia regional executive, takes up the role of 'executive partner, East'.

Brown, who will continue in her role as head of the firm's employment, pensions and incentives practice group is now 'executive partner, West', and will lead the U.K. and U.S. regions for the firm and chair the U.K. regional executive.

Moscow office managing partner and current EMEA corporate head Alexei Roudiack has been appointed to the new role of EMEA managing partner and will report into Brown, as will the firm's New York office managing partner.

D'Agostino has been replaced in his role as head of Asia by partner and China head May Tai. He has also been replaced in his role as global head of disputes by partner duo Anna Sutherland and Damien Byrne Hill.

In a statement, D'Agostino said: "The new executive has been working together on our pandemic response since late February, and our experience has confirmed the need for a nimble leadership structure – one that guides globally yet allows leaders to act locally."

"By devolving day-to-day decisions closer to the business, we'll allow our people to work in the way that makes most sense for their clients and region," he added.