Birmingham law firm Wragge & Co has re-structured its senior management team to fast-forward its drive into the major corporates market.

Richard Haywood is to lead a firmwide international business development campaign, while corporate partner Ian Metcalfe becomes managing partner.

Other changes include the appointment of David Vaughan as new group leader for Corporate - the equivalent of a chief executive role - allowing current group leader Jeremy Millington to focus full-time on winning and leading private equity and M & A deals.

Wragge's Quentin Poole said: "We have set out to become the preferred law firm for major corporates and it's a market that's moving very quickly.

"The firm is growing again and to get ahead of the growth we're updating our structure to exploit our market potential and capitalise on individual talents.

"The point is that we've got an unrivalled offering for major corporates and other significant public and private sector organisations and we need to make the most of that message now.

"Richard is the ideal candidate to focus on taking our offering to the marketplace and Ian is a hugely respected partner in the business who will manage the firm to support the strategy. In short, we've changed the structure to match our ambition."

New managing partner Metcalfe spent three years at the Crown Prosecution Service before re-training as a corporate lawyer, joining Wragge & Co in 1989.

A corporate partner since 1992, he has taken the lead role on some of the firm's highest value deals which have contributed to Wragge & Co's emergence as a national player.

Mr Metcalfe is also client partner for 3i, BUPA, GE, Hill & Smith, LogicaCMG, Misys, and Unilever.

He is a member of the advisory board to the Columbia Business School Senior Executive Programme and the Advantage Enterprise & Innovation Fund. He is also vice-chairman of Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

As managing partner he takes on responsibility for five group leaders - Adrian Bland for real estate; Eddie Breen for dispute resolution; Kevin Lowe for human resources; David Vaughan for corporate and Julian Pallett for finance projects and technology - who between them account for 553 lawyers including 105 partners.

He also manages the firm's nine strong senior management team responsible for 482 support staff.

Metcalfe joins the firm's management committee, chaired by Quentin Poole, with three elected members - Gordon Harris, Mark Dakeyne and Paul Howard - plus nonexecutives Sir Michael Lyons and Jim Wadia.

Mr Metcalfe said: "Our strategy is clear and we're heading in the right direction.

We need to ensure the firm can deliver what it takes.

"The largest national and international firms are our competitors now so our current and future clients want technically excellent legal advice and great service at a competitive price.

"Preserving our unique culture is also a priority for us. That's why people come to work here and that's how we'll attract the best new talent.

"I am passionate about this business and it's a privilege for me to be taking on the role of managing so many talented people at such a critical time in the firm's development."

Mr Haywood took over from Quentin Poole as managing partner in May 2003 with Poole's senior partner appointment.

His headline achievements for the firm include the pioneering conversion to LLP in 2003, a turnaround in PEP from a low of £208,000 in 2003/ 2004 to a record £307,000 in 2004/05 - an increase of 46 per cent - and the implementation of the firm's high performance culture programme.

Mr Haywood is credited by many partners for backing the launch of the London teams - especially REG, pensions and corporate - which has opened up opportunities in London and South-east including instructions from Arsenal FC, the Department of Health, The Baird Group, Marks & Spencer and the Greater London Authority.

His lateral hire appointments include Adrian Bland from Eversheds and Sally Pinkerton from SJ Berwin.

The new structure will be official from January 1.