Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has named a new head of the firm's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) corporate practice.

Bertrand Pellet, who has been based in Paris for the past seven years, will succeed corporate partner David Higgins in the role.

Higgins will continue to be active in the region, while from May, Pellet will begin to split his time between Paris and Dubai, before becoming become fully operational in the emirate in September.

The appointment follows Freshfields' recent confirmation of an exclusive association with Saudi Arabia's Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan (LFSH) and the relocation of partner Tobias Mueller-Deku to Riyadh.

Freshfields MENA managing partner Joe Huse said: "Bertrand's 20 years of experience in corporate and finance transactions in an international environment are particularly well suited to our MENA practice.

"His relocation to Dubai, combined with our exclusive association with LFSH in Saudi Arabia, is further evidence of our strong commitment to the region."

Pellet said: "Like the rest of the world, the Middle East economy is going through challenging times. This has led to an increasingly diversified need for legal services that require versatility and flexibility from lawyers in the region.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for me to contribute to our growth in the region and build upon a strong existing platform."

Freshfields now has 50 lawyers in its MENA offices spread across Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.