Linklaters has appointed India chief Sandeep Katwala as the new managing partner of the firm's Emerging Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) practice.

Katwala (pictured) will succeed Stuart Salt on 1 May, when Salt takes up his new role as Asia managing partner. Salt was appointed as EEMEA chief last year when he succeeded retiring partner Nick Eastwell.

Katwala has headed up Linklaters' India practice since 2006 and will continue in this role alongside his new appointment, working with related clients.

He made partner at Linklaters in 2000 after joining the magic circle firm in 1992, during which time he also spent two years as the general counsel of a Mumbai-based energy company.

Linklaters managing partner Simon Davies said: "I am delighted to welcome Sandeep as EEMEA regional managing partner. The CEE, Middle East, Russia/CIS and Africa are important and dynamic markets.

"Furthermore, we are seeing increasing cross-border activity between the EEMEA region and Asia, including India. Sandeep's broad experience in Asia, including his success in building our India practice, makes him ideally suited to this key leadership role."

Linklaters has made a number of recent management changes, including the appointment of new Luxembourg managing partner Freddy Brausch, who replaced the office's three co-heads on 15 March.

The firm has also elected a new senior partner for Germany, with Carl-Peter Feick set to succeed Michael Lappe on 1 May.