US firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has appointed James Ashe-Taylor and Andrew Thomas as the new heads of its London office, following the decision of previous UK chief Stephanie Bess to quit for a client earlier in the summer.

Competition partner Ashe-Taylor and finance specialist Thomas will head the 12-partner London arm with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the office, lateral partner hires and planning UK strategy.

The pair succeed corporate partner Bess, who joined Gibson Dunn's London office in January 1997 after 19 years with Dechert. She left the top 50 US firm for investment group and long-term client Investcorp in May.