Birmingham City Council has restructured its legal team, appointing David Tatlow to the newly created role of director of legal services.
He will work under corporate director of governance Mirza Ahmad, the council’s most senior lawyer.
Tatlow was previously one of three assistant directors and was in charge of the litigation division.
The reorganisation will see responsibility for legal services pass to Tatlow.
Birmingham, the largest local authority in the UK, is in the closing stages of a major panel review. Ahmad invited firms to tender last September for a slice of the £5m annual legal spend.
The council works with 21 firms on its existing panels, which include private finance initiative, employment, civil litigation and major property development. Firms on the list include Bevan Brittan, DLA Piper, Eversheds and Wragge & Co.
Ahmad will also make the panel available for use by other local councils.