Allen & Overy (A&O) has appointed a new India chairman and created a new managing partner role for the region in the wake of the retirement of former chair Alex Pease.

London-based projects and structured finance partner Jonathan Brayne has been named chairman of the group, while Hong Kong-based capital markets partner Andrew Harrow has taken on the new role of India managing partner.

Brayne and Harrow both take up initial two-year terms.

Pease, formerly the sole leader of A&O's India group, stepped down at the end of December two years after being named chair at the India group's inception. During his time at the helm, the firm signed a non-exclusive alliance with Indian firm Trilegal.

Pease said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed developing and driving forward the firm's strategy for India. Working with Trilegal and overseeing the development of our referral relationship has been a real pleasure."

Brayne was formerly based in Asia for nine years until returning to London in 1997. While both Brayne and Harrow will oversee Indian client relations, Brayne will be charged with responsibility for relations with Trilegal, as well as looking at how the firm adapts to India's market liberalisation.

Brayne said: "I am really excited – I used to do quite a lot of work in India when I was based in Hong Kong. The benefit of the managing partner role is that Andrew is heavily involved on the transactional side of our business. This is the best combination of skills."

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