DLA Piper has appointed Jean-Philippe Sorba to manage its Paris office, replacing Steven De Keyser, who has been acting as interim managing partner since 2009.

Sorba has headed up DLA Piper's local litigation and regulatory group since joining the firm from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe in 2008. He will continue to act as group head until a replacement is found. His new role is effective as of 1 May.

De Keyser is a consultant at the firm and has acted as interim office head since July 2009, taking over from former regional managing partner Bruce Mee, who stood down from the role to return to fee earning. Mee had headed the office since 2007.

De Keyser resigned from the firm in November 2009 but will carry on as managing partner until May 2010. He is yet to announce his next move.

Sorba said: "I have responsibility for the development of the Paris office by strengthening our existing teams in a few practice areas. We need to extend and increase our corporate services and grow in others, for instance, in criminal law."

Separately, Field Fisher Waterhouse has also made changes in its Paris office, growing its intellectual property practice with the hire of Franck Veisse from local firm Grand Auzas & Associes.