Computer giant Apple has appointed a new UK head of legal after taking on Sky Sports UK head of legal Jay Gillman-Wells.

Gillman-Wells joined the electronics giant this week (30 July) and will be responsible for all in-house matters, based in the company's London office.

She was replaced in her role at the BSkyB company by International Cricket Council commercial lawyer Richard Verow, who joined at the beginning of June.

Gillman-Wells was previously a sports law partner at legacy firm Nicholson Graham & Jones, and before that a senior vice president of telecommunications company ISL Worldwide.

In addition to Gillman-Wells' hire, Apple is on the hunt for a new general counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa to bolster its legal function outside the US. The computing giant does not currently have a general counsel for the region. In the UK Apple is known to instruct firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Baker & McKenzie.

The appointment follows a period of unrest for Apple after the US Securities and Exchange Commission charges against former Apple general counsel Nancy Heinen for her alleged involvement in improper stock option backdating.

Heinen, who left Apple last May, was accused of having backdated an option grant of $4.8m (£2.4m) to six members of Apple's executive team, including herself, in 2001. She has also been charged with causing the company to backdate a $7.5m (£3.7m) grant to chief executive Steve Jobs.