Clifford Chance (CC) has appointed Geraint Hughes as managing partner of its Singapore office as incumbent Philip Rapp steps down after 11 years.

Hughes, who became a partner in 1999 and has a general corporate and commercial practice focusing on oil and gas and projects work, will take over the role from 1 May. He is currently based in the firm's Hong Kong finance practice, and will relocate to Singapore as part of the new role. He will continue to manage CC's Asia energy group.

Rapp will remain as head of the corporate practice in southeast Asia, which covers the firm's Hong Kong and Singapore offices.

Hughes said: "My approach will be to work with the team to implement our clear strategy of the continued growth of our practice in south and southeast Asia. Singapore is a key hub for our firm to deliver to our clients across the region."

The news comes as CC has reorganised its US law capital markets team in Asia with the firm's head of Asia capital markets, Crawford Brickley, relocating from Singapore to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, senior consultant Julian Perlmutter will move from London to Hong Kong while Hyun Kim has joined the firm as a senior consultant from Davis Polk & Wardwell.