Linklaters has appointed a new co-graduate recruitment partner in Mark Middleton, replacing Matt Keats with immediate effect.

The capital markets specialist will work alongside litigator Euan Clarke, who was appointed graduate partner in 2007. The duo will oversee the City giant's graduate recruitment initiatives and policy in the UK.

The appointment comes as former co-head Keats relocates to the Linklaters' Moscow arm to work in the projects practice.

A partner since 2007, Middleton's practice covers structured finance, credit derivatives, fund-linked products and debt and equity capital markets work.

Clarke said: "[Middleton] will bring several years of experience in graduate recruitment to the role, having been a very active member of our interview panel for some time."

"Attracting, recruiting and keeping the right people is at the heart of what we do, so I am pleased that we will continue with having two partners jointly responsible for the role, alongside the 19-strong core partner team who contribute to our graduate recruitment strategy."

Linklaters recruits between 110 and 130 UK-based graduates a year. Earlier this year Linklaters signed up to the new accelerated Legal Practice Course, offered by the College of Law for the firm's 2011-12 trainee solicitors. The course will be cut from one year to seven months.