Cox Hallett and Wilkinson has a new man at the helm, legal eagle David Cooper who takes over from David Kessaram in running the day to day business of the busy law firm.

Mr. Cooper has been named managing partner of the firm, and took over the post as of January 1 this year.

?It was a natural progression to become managing partner,? said Mr. Cooper. ?There is a lot of administration and it is good to share the burden around a bit.?

Mr. Kessaram was managing partner for six years after deciding it was time to step down. He took over in 1998 after the merger of Cox & Wilkinson and Hallett, Whitney & Patton.

He oversaw the merger of the two firms and the development of the combined practices during his period as managing partner and is currently the president of the Bermuda Bar Council.

On stepping down, he will continue to head the litigation practice of the firm and will assist in its ongoing management, according to a statement put out by the law practice.

Mr. Cooper, who practices in the firm?s private client and conveyancing department, said he expects to keep the post for about three years, before handing the baton on to another partner at Cox Hallett and Wilkinson.

Mr. Cooper holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Trinity College, University of Toronto and a BA and a law degree from St. John?s College at Cambridge University.

He was admitted to the bar of England in 1971 and to the bar in Bermuda in 1974.

Mr. Cooper said he would focus on the international and local practice focusing on client service and community involvement.

Cox Hallett and Wilkinson is a mid-sized law firm with over 50 staff and 15 lawyers which focuses on corporate and commercial law.

The firm deals with all forms of civil litigation and arbitration, property law, conveyancing and trusts.

The firm, which has its offices in a building between Victoria and Parliament Street, is a member of Meritas, the world?s largest affiliation of independent medium-sized business law firms.