Bird & Bird overhauls management team

Bird & Bird has elected Swedish managing partner Michael Frie as the firm’s new chairman, after former chairman Hamish Sandison stepped down from the role.

David Kerr has held on to his role as managing partner, standing unopposed in this year’s round of elections. Kerr has spent 11 years as managing partner and will serve another three-year term.

Frie starts his new role on 1 March. He joined Bird & Bird in 2000, when Swedish firm Gedda & Ekdahl which merged with Bird & Bird.

Kerr said: “Michael has been an active voice on the firm's Global Board since he joined us and I think he will be excellent in the role.”

Sandison said: “I believe the time is now right for the firm to appoint a non-UK chairman to reflect the international character of the business.”

More than 50 per cent of the firm’s lawyers are now based outside the UK.