Norton Rose dispute resolution partner Philip Reed has left the top 10 City firm to become new general counsel at Threadneedle Investments, the fourth-largest retail investment funds manager in the UK.

Reed will join Threadneedle's senior management team on 29 January in the newly-combined role of legal counsel and company secretary. His remit includes overseeing a total of 32 staff in the legal and compliance teams. Reed will report to managing director Crispin Henderson.

Reed – a solicitor advocate who was called to the Bar in 1985 – was one of the founding partners of Norton Rose's securities litigation group. He joins a diversified investment business with expertise in equities, bonds, property and hedge funds and which manages assets worth over £72bn.

Henderson said in a statement: "Philip's depth and breadth of experience will be invaluable to the team as our business continues to expand. He will play a major role in our senior management team, uniting our fully-professional in-house legal and compliance functions."