Linklaters reshuffles as Finch becomes Sheriff of the City

Linklaters' head of property Robert Finch is stepping down after being elected Sheriff of the City of London. His replacement will be partner Simon Clark.

Clark takes over as head on 21 August. Finch, who takes on his sheriff duties at the end of September, will remain with Linklaters as a property partner.

Peter Farren, senior partner in the property department, says Clark was the obvious choice.

He adds: "Simon Clark is on sabbatical at the moment but will be back in August and will come back as head of property."

His appointment comes after an analysis of Linklaters' property department by management consultants Bain & Co.

Farren explains the examination of working practices highlighted "a bulge in the middle level of partners".

He says: "Ideally, a property department would be organised like the army, with a head of department and then people below him of varying levels of seniority."

Farren adds the external examination was needed because lawyers do not necessarily understand business management.

He says: "There is a tendency in the legal profession for lawyers to think, just because they are lawyers, that they are good at everything."

Following the early retirement of two partners in February, Farren confirms no more staff will be leaving the department.

Linklaters is using the same management consultants in its Far East office.

A spokeswoman tells The Lawyer: "Linklaters is growing substantially in the Far East and [Bain & Co] is helping us do that."