Philip Matthews has been elected managing partner of London firm Wedlake Bell. He will take over from Julian Cuppage, who completes his second five-year term at the helm in March. Matthews, who specialises in commercial property, has been a partner at the firm since 1986. His election comes as they prepare to bolster their management team with the appointment of a chief executive. “It is not a time to rest on our laurels,” Matthews says. In the first seven months of this financial year the firm has recorded an 18 per cent increase in turnover.

Richard Perks has been chosen as the next head of chambers of 5 Essex Court following the elevation of Simon Freedland, QC, to the bench. Perks specialises in actions against the police and has just advised on the first police misconduct hearing to be held in public. Last year, he successfully represented Raman Kumar in a high profile civil action against a woman who falsely accused him of rape. “I look forward to building on the huge success we have enjoyed since becoming a specialist civil set in 2004,” he said. Freedland, who became head of chambers in July 2002, will join the South Eastern Circuit as a Circuit Judge on December 7.

Piers Reed, a senior member of criminal set 3 Temple Gardens, which is headed by John Coffey, QC, has been elected as a bencher of Lincoln's Inn. Most benchers, who form the Inn's governing council, are either drawn from the ranks of the judiciary or have six or seven years' standing as QCs under their belts. But a small number of the most distinguished junior barristers are also invited to serve.

25 Bedford Row have secured the services of two silks, bolstering the number of QCs in their ranks to nine. Alan Newman is joining the set from Charter Chambers, while Peter Doyle is moving from QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers. Newman’s practice covers the fields of public and criminal law; he focuses on white collar crime, including money laundering, restraint orders and directors’ disqualification. Doyle's practice focuses on criminal defence with an emphasis on commercial fraud and revenue offences.

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