Eversheds litigation and dispute partner James Southworth is set to relinquish his role as interim head of legal at the Co-operative Bank and return to the firm in a full-time role.

Southworth has served as the bank’s legal head on an interim basis since January. The Co-op Bank hopes to make a permanent hire in the New Year, at which point Southworth will return to full-time fee earning, following a handover period.