Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker's global real estate chief Philip Feder has replaced Mark Eagan as the US firm's London managing partner.

The management switch was effective from Monday (27 July), with Feder retaining his role at the helm of the real estate practice internationally. Eagan, who has been in charge of the London office for five years, takes on a new position as London real estate head and will also help Feder build the team in Europe.

Feder, who has led the firm's global property practice since 1999, takes up the new London role for an indefinite term.

He said: "I have been at Paul Hastings for a very long time and I have a pretty global focus and overview of the firm. I have worked on a large number of deals in the US, Europe and Asia and our plan is to really focus on the global nature of the practice."

Paul Hastings plans to grow the London office further, with litigation, arbitration and restructuring marked as priority areas.

Feder added: "We see London and Europe generally as a major growth area. We have the ability and flexibility to achieve that at a time when other US firms may be retrenching. We have a strong employment law and litigation capability. Those that have suffered in the last few months might have been more dependent on transactional work alone and been less diversified."

Feder relocated to London from Paul Hastings' Los Angeles office in August last year. Paul Hastings first launched its City base in 1997.