Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and Armstrong Teasdale on Tuesday announced the appointment of new managing partners.

Equity partners at Sheppard Mullin elected Chicago-based employment partner Kevin Cloutier to serve as the firm’s co-managing partner, taking over for 18-year managing partner Robert Beall, effective Tuesday. A number of other practice area leadership changes took place concurrently. Beall will remain on the firm’s executive committee and has been appointed to the newly created role of “special projects manager,” though Cloutier declined to elaborate on the responsibilities of that role.