Lovells' new firm shaped on original

The firm created out of Lovell White Durrant and Boesebeck Droste's merger will adopt the UK firm's existing management structure, The Lawyer can reveal.

Senior partner Andrew Walker says: "The management structure [we are adopting] already exists in broad terms in Lovell White Durrant. Boesebeck Droste had a three-man committee and that was all they had.

"We have stayed with our structure because clearly we would need something bigger than just a three-man board. We have tried to graft things onto that and will see how it goes."

The firm, which will be known as Lovells, will be run by two separate bodies, the partnership board and the executive committee. It will become Europe's fourth largest with 231 partners. The merger will take effect from 1 January 2000.

Walker says: "In crude terms, the board will devise the strategy for the firm and the management committee is responsible for executing the strategy."

Walker and managing partner Lesley MacDonagh will retain their positions. Their German counterparts, Walter Klosterfelde and Oliver Felsenstein, will take up deputy roles.

Walker will chair the board, with Klosterfelde acting as his deputy.

Partners Allan Murray-Jones, Michael Seymour, John Davidson and John Young will also sit on the 14-strong board, as will non-executive member Christopher Sherriden.

MacDonagh and director of finance John Smith will become ex-officio members. The 12-strong executive committee will be chaired by MacDonagh with Felsenstein acting as deputy.

Walker, who was planning to retire next year, has delayed his departure until 2002.