Cobbetts is undergoing a management shake-up as senior partner Stephen White steps down to be replaced by commercial property partner Stephen Benson. Benson is already on the firm’s partnership board and has been a member of the operational executive since 1996. White is due to retire in April 2007. Corporate partner Maurice Cowan will become the chair of Cobbetts’ partnership board, and managing partner Michael Shaw continues in his present role. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 26 April

Peters & Peters senior partner steps downMonty Raphael (left), senior partner at West End litigation boutique Peters & Peters, is stepping down, to be replaced by civil fraud head Keith Oliver. Raphael will return to full-time fee-earning and continue to lead the fraud and regulatory practice. He will remain involved in the firm’s strategic development. Managing partner Julia Balfour-Lynn continues in her role.

First revealed on www.thelawyer.com 25 April