Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed corporate partners Bruce Embley and Matthew Herman as its new co-heads of global M&A.

London-based Embley and New York-based Herman took up their new roles in December, replacing Peter Lyons, who became Americas managing partner, and Ben Spiers, who is set to join Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in London.

Corporate partner Embley is currently advising brewing giant AB InBev on its sale of a number of Eastern European beer brands, including Czech market leader Pilsner Urquell, to Japanese brewer Asahi for €7.8bn (£6.5bn).

He previously led the magic circle firm's Dubai corporate team between 2006 and 2008 before transferring back to London. Deal highlights during his time in the Middle East include advising on Dubai International Capital's bid for Liverpool Football Club in 2006.

US corporate head Herman has been with Freshfields since 2003, when he joined as an associate from dissolved California firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. He made partner at Freshfields in 2006.

As US corporate head he has played a role overseeing the firm's expansion in New York, with key corporate hires including Mitchell Presser from Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and Americas head Lyons, who joined from Shearman & Sterling.

Key deals for Herman include advising investment firm Henderson Group on its $6bn (£4.6bn) merger with Janus Capital in 2016.

Freshfields has made several changes within its corporate leadership team recently, with London corporate partner David Higgins taking over from Adrian Maguire as co-head of the firm's global financial investors group.

Yesterday, Legal Week revealed that Freshfields has offered voluntary redundancy to 180 secretaries in its London office, with the process set to conclude by the end of this month.