New leadership at Hill Taylors following partner defections

City firm Hill Taylor Dickinson is entering a new era with fresh blood in the key positions of chairman and managing partner.

Robert Wallis has been elected chairman and Rhys Clift managing partner. But they will continue fee-earning work in shipping, insurance and reinsurance.

They will be charged with the job of raising the firm's profile following a series of defections over the past two years.

Outgoing chairman, John Pople, has relinquished the chair he has held for a decade.

The firm says Pople's decision to step down was voluntary. He will stay on at the commercial firm to continue his shipping practice.

The shake-up coincides with the move of partner Peter Macdonald Eggers, who is leaving after 11 years at the practice.

Macdonald Eggers is set to join the commercial chambers of Stephen Tomlinson QC at 7 King's Bench Walk on 1 June.

The firm has also made up four partners and appointed two associates. Mark Tilley, Andrew Waldron and Christopher Zavos have been made partners in London, and Rula Dajani has been made a partner in Dubai.

The new partner appointments brings Hill Taylor Dickinson's partner count to 27 partners, two of whom are based in Dubai and one in Piraeus, Greece.