Herbert Smith streamlines corporate client teams

Herbert Smith corporate head Michael Walter has restructured the firm's internal practice groups to streamline client teams and improve associate development.

Previously the London corporate practice was divided into six internal groups for work allocation purposes. That number has now been increased to nine.

Walter said: "Our group structure within the corporate division has been unchanged for a number of years, but the corporate practice in London has been growing significantly over the last few years. With different teams coming in and different areas growing, we looked at whether we had a group structure that was appropriate for the business we have today."

Walter went on to say that, with the corporate practice now housing 65 partners and 180 associates, it was important to reduce the size of the groups to ensure associates gain sufficient exposure to a variety of partners and work types.

"We've also tried to align our client teams because in some cases the teams were split across different groups," he added.

Although the groups are not divided along industry lines, Walter said the restructuring had attempted to place greater emphasis on areas such as private equity and the oil and gas sector.

"There are no sector teams," he said, "but we took the opportunity to bring together people who had common interests."