Richard Nelson, the senior partner of Nottingham-based Nelsons, has stepped down from the partnership after nearly 20 years with the firm. Nelson, who also heads up the firm's business defence department, will remain with the firm as a consultant. At the same time, current managing partner Tim Hastings will take up a new full-time chief executive role and deputy managing partner Chris Miller will step up to managing partner. Meanwhile, partner Lynn Bleakley has been appointed as the new head of Nelson's business defence department.