Bevan Ashford has launched a major strategic review of its practice that is expected to lead to the formal demerger of the top 50 UK firm’s two profit centres next year. The review, announced internally at the end of November, will address the unusual arrangements which sees the firm operate as two separately managed profit centres: one in Bristol, Birmingham and London and another for separate offices in Exeter, Plymouth and London. (5 December)

Taylor Wessing slashes newly-qualified intake