Managing Partner

Frank, Bernstein, Conaway & Goldman, a major Baltimore law firm that's been the focus of merger rumors within the legal community, confirmed yesterday that it's talked with one of the city's largest firms about the possibility of combining staffs.The discussion was held with Piper & Marbury, a 250-lawyer firm that is considered one of the city's best and itself is the product a 1952 merger. A merger of the two would create the largest firm.Frank, Bernstein is a 110-year-old, 150-lawyer firm.

James T. Wharton, testifying to a federal jury, described May 26, 1988, as "a terrible day."That was when he learned from officials of Dresser Industries Inc. that one of his law partners, Edward S. Digges Jr., had overbilled the client by astronomical amounts, charging for legal work that was never done and charging partner's rates for work done by law clerks and associate lawyers.But Wharton admitted yesterday that, even though he came to realize Digges' billing fraud had substantially elevated his income as a law partner -- to $1.7 million over three years -- he has not yet paid back any of the money to Dresser Industries.

For the second time in about a month, the managing partner of a major Baltimore accounting firm has been promoted to the top position in his company's Philadelphia office.D. Keith Cobb will be leaving KPMG Peat Marwick's 250-person Baltimore operation sometime in midsummer, he said yesterday."I will be assuming the responsibilities of managing partner of the Philadelphia office," said Mr. Cobb, who also has overall responsibility for Baltimore and Washington and three offices in Virginia.

New positionsTrace Laboratories-East, an independent test laboratory in Linthicum, promoted Scott S. Opperhauser to general manager.WNUV-TV Channel 54 in Baltimore appointed Len Weinstein local sales manager.Majestic Distilling Co. Inc. in Baltimore promoted Lee Schuman to executive vice president.92 STAR, a Baltimore radio station, appointed Bill O'Brien program director and Danny Ocean evening radio host.McCrone Inc., a regional engineering, environmental consulting, land planning and surveying firm, named Jeffrey W. Greene assistant department head in the Prince Frederick office and Francis K. Abell Jr. branch manager of the La Plata office.

AccountingRobert G. Neubert has been appointed managing partner at Ernst & Young. Previously he was director of international services in New York. Neubert replaces Ronald J. Kozich, who has become managing partner at Ernst & Young's Philadelphia office.Jay A. Cleaver has been appointed local sales manager for United Artists Advertising Inc., a division of United Artists Cable of Baltimore. He is responsible for advertising accounts for local, regional and national business clients on the major cable networks.

The Baltimore office of the national accounting firm Ernst & Young, which has the largest staff of accountants in the city, announced yesterday the appointment of Robert G. Neubert as its second managing partner in less than three years.Mr. Neubert replaces Ronald J. Kozich, who will become managing partner at Ernst & Young's Philadelphia office. Both appointments become official April 1, said Ronald C. Diegelman, director of planning and marketing for the Baltimore office.Mr. Neubert was in New Zealand on a business trip yesterday, Mr. Diegelman said.

ScienceClinical Science Research Ltd., based in Huntingdon, England, announces two appointments in its plans to expand its international operation.As part of the company's expansion into the North American market, Thomas J. Humphries is named head of CSR's Clinical Development business. He will be based at the CSR International office that the company recently opened in Baltimore.He brings years of experience in clinical research and development and has held senior clinical research posts at SmithKline Beecham, Merck Sharp and Dohme and PharmaKinetics.

George Elkins Co., a fixture in Los Angeles area real estate for nearly 70 years, is selling its residential operations to separate management-led investor groups, a company official said.The firm's three company-owned residential real estate offices are being sold to two investor groups.It then will expand its mortgage banking, property management and general insurance divisions, Ronald Robbins, president of George Elkins Co., said Tuesday.The prices of the separate deals were not disclosed.