Links combines key partner meetings

Linklaters ;has scrapped one of its two annual ;partnership ­meetings by merging its partnership retreat and strategy meetings into a single conference.

The move comes as the firm looks to scale down the size of its overall partnership as part of ‘Project New World’, a major restructuring plan that was implemented by senior partner David Cheyne and managing partner Simon Davies without a partnership vote.

Until now the firm’s ­partners have attended a partnership retreat every November, ;while ;the ­strategy meeting has taken place in April each year. As a result of the revamp the entire partnership will next meet in April, by which time the main elements of Project New World should be well underway.

According to a source at the firm, the partnership retreat was viewed internally as a bonding exercise, while the strategy meeting saw partners voting on business issues. The new partnership conference ;will ;now ­encompass both purposes.

In addition, the firm’s executive committee now meets once a fortnight instead of every week.