* David Edmonds, the chairman of NHS Direct, is to head the legal profession’s new regulatory arm, the Legal Services Board (LSB). He will become the board’s inaugural chairman on May 1, two years ahead of its anticipated operational launch.

The appointment represents a key stage of the Government’s legal services reform programme. Under the terms of the Legal Services Act, the LSB will become the single oversight regulator of the legal profession under a new regulatory regime that will allow lawyers to form partnerships with non-lawyers and law firms sell stakes to investors. The board will become operational in early 2010.

Edmonds' experience spans a successful career as a senior civil servant as well as several private-sector roles including seven years as an executive at the NatWest Group. He has been a commissioner of the Legal Services Commission for the past four years.

* The chambers 3-4 South Square has instigated a management shake-up after the decision of Michael Crystal, QC, the head of chambers, to stand down after 24 years in the role.

From May 1 the set, which is best known for its insolvency expertise, will be managed by a triumvirate of senior members: William Trower, QC, Gabriel Moss, QC, and Robin Dicker, QC.

Trower will chair the set’s executive committee and take responsibility for the running of chambers. Moss and Dicker will become joint directors of policy and strategy.

Paul Cooklin, senior practice manager, said the trio’s spread of specialisms reflected the set’s own strength in insolvency and other related practice areas including banking, finance and commercial litigation.

He also paid tribute to Crystal’s record as head of chambers. He said: “Michael’s dynamism and vision over many years have made an immeasurable contribution to the success and reputation that 3-4 South Square enjoys.”

* Julia Hayhoe has been appointed head of client development at the London office of Baker & McKenzie.

The role gives her responsibility for developing and implementing the firm’s client development strategy. She will also head the office’s business development team.

Hayhoe qualified as a solicitor and worked for a number of years as a commercial litigator. She subsequently became a director at Hildebrandt International, the consultants, acting as an adviser to law firms, investment banks and in-house legal departments on client development, organisational development and strategy.

* James Duncan has joined Wedlake Bell from Simmons & Simmons as a corporate partner.

He is making the move after seven years at the international firm, where he was a senior associate. He specialises in advising on on-shore and off-shore closed-ended fund structures for private equity houses, hedge funds and real estate investment vehicles.

His arrival at the firm, which is based in London and has an office in Guernsey, boosts the number of corporate partners to five, of an overall partner count of 42.

To submit information for this column, please send an e-mail to legalmoves@thetimes.co.uk

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