Slimmed-down Morgan Cole reshuffles directors

Morgan Cole has revealed the results of its elections for new divisional directors - part of a management shake-up following a string of mergers and job cuts.

Former co-chairman Guy Clarke has been made divisional director for property, and partner Bleddyn Rees will be heading the business services division.

Former property director Chris Cann and former business services director Michael Prior stood down before the election.

And commercial litigation partner Allan Wilson has ousted former head of litigation Phillip Howell Richardson.

There is no change for the other divisions. Ian Tenquist remains divisional director for insurance and former Fishburn Boxer partner John Cayton remains head of Fishburn Morgan Cole, the London-based insurance division of Morgan Cole.

Cardiff-based Morgan Bruce merged with Reading-based Cole & Cole last year. Morgan Cole then joined up with London firm Fishburn Boxer, to create a dominant M4 corridor firm with more than 100 partners.

Morgan Cole has been restructuring since the mergers, and the latest round of elections are the first for the unified positions. Last month, John Cole was elected Morgan Cole's chairman.

Former co-chairmen Guy Clarke and John Moisson lost their places on the firm's 12-strong management board after their bid for the unified post of chairman failed after fighting an intense election.

Commercial property partner Clarke's appointment re-instates him on the firm's management board, while Moisson is set to continue as a partner.

As part of the rationalisation, Morgan Cole partners decided to axe 15 of their number to make more profit for those remaining.

The cull was first revealed in The Lawyer (12 July) with the proposals accepted by the full partnership on 20 July.

A Morgan Cole spokeswoman says: "There are no further developments at this stage."

Morgan Cole chief executive David Main was not available for comment.