High-profile Eversheds corporate partner Guy Green is to leave the national giant's Birmingham arm to join financial services group Exista as its first-ever global general counsel.

Green, who will be based in the Icelandic company's London office, is a former head of Eversheds' private equity practice in Birmingham. He joined the firm in 1999 from Black Country practice George Green & Co.

Green took a lead role on Exista's recent €1.9bn (£1.3bn) share acquisition of 15.6% of the shares of Finnish insurance and financial services group Sampo Ojy. He also played a key role expanding the national firm's strong Scandinavian practice and maintains a close relationship with Icelandic food giant Bakkavor, in which Exista holds a significant stake.

Commenting on his move, Green said: "This was too good an opportunity to turn down. I have worked with Exista and its leading shareholders, Agust and Lydur Gudmundsson, for six years and I have liked their ambitious and forward-thinking approach to business."

Eversheds UK corporate chief Peter Halpin added: "Guy is an exceptional corporate lawyer and this is a great opportunity for him. We very much look forward to continuing to work with Guy in his new role."