Murphy will take over from Saul as head of the firm’s corporate practice on 1 May following partnership elections last week. Meanwhile, David Waterfield will take over as head of the real estate practice when current chief Graham White steps up to the role of executive partner.
Richard Clark takes over as head of dispute resolution from Elizabeth Barrett, while Jonathan Fenn will succeed pensions and employment chief Eddie Codrington.
The heads of the finance, M&A, competition and tax practice streams remain unchanged, with Andrew Balfour, Steve Cooke, Malcolm Nicholson and Tony Beare each re-elected to their respective roles. Each department head position carries a three-year term.
Murphy told Legal Week: “It will be very much business as usual. I will still be doing client work, with just a bit more management. I will be following in the illustrious steps of [Nigel] Boardman and Saul, so I have plenty of people around to keep me on the right path.”
In a related move, the firm has also overhauled its partnership board, with a number of current members stepping down at the end of the financial year.
Outgoing management duo Tim Clark and Melvyn Hughes step aside from the board, as do partners Deborah Finkler, Nilufer von Bismarck, Graham Earles and Richard Levitt.
Saul and White retain their places alongside Balfour and Cooke, joined by new practice partner Paul Olney and Murphy. Other additions, each of whom will serve three-year terms on the board, are partners Philippe Chappatte, Richard Clark, Craig Cleaver, Steve Edge and Roland Turnill.
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