Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed a new global head of finance, with real estate finance partner Simon Johnson succeeding David Trott in the role.

Johnson will take up the position in September when banking partner Trott's four-year term ends.

Johnson's practice focuses on acting for banks and other financial institutions, as well as investors and sponsors on real estate finance transactions. He is also the magic circle firm's trainee recruitment partner.

Trott will return to full-time fee earning when his term ends.

Johnson will take up his role in the wake of a restructuring of the firm's finance practice in a bid to boost profits.

The restructuring, which kicked off in May, aims to collect individual team practices together in larger groups. Teams such as asset, project and aviation finance are set to be consolidated into one overall group.

The firm will also combine its capital markets and corporate treasury groups and merge its greenfield, brownfield and bond groups into one infrastructure team.

The firm boosted its finance practice in February with the hire of high yield partner Andrew Hagan from Kirkland & Ellis, reuniting him with Ward McKimm, co-head of European leveraged finance at the magic circle firm, who joined from Kirkland in June 2015.

The practice has also seen partners going the other way. In June, banking partner Jeffrey Rubinoff, who specialises in property finance deals, was hired by White & Case in London.