Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed a new global head of tax with London-based Colin Hargreaves taking over the role from Stephan Eilers.

Hargreaves (pictured) will take on his new post from January 2011 for a two-year term following the recent announcement that existing tax head Eilers is taking up the post of executive partner as part of the magic circle law firm's new management team.

Currently the head of the firm's London tax group, Hargreaves is a corporate tax lawyer whose practice covers all tax aspects of corporate finance transactions, banking and structured and asset finance. He particularly focuses on the financial services, healthcare, utilities and infrastructure sectors.

Tax partner Sarah Falk will replace Hargreaves as London tax group head.

Eilers's appointment to the newly-created role of executive partner was announced in September. The position will see him provide senior operational support to the managing partner, the role which will be taken on by current chief executive Ted Burke.

Freshfields joint senior partner Guy Morton said: "Colin is an outstanding candidate for this role thanks to an impressive track record, legal expertise that is second to none and strong management experience. He is ideally placed to help our tax practice continue and enhance the high levels of performance that it has consistently achieved in recent years."

Earlier this month it emerged that City disputes partner Andrew Hart is set to take on the role of joint leader for the firm's financial institutions group, replacing Will Lawes, who was in September elected as Freshfields' next senior partner.

Hart will co-lead the sector group alongside Frankfurt-based corporate partner Gunnar Schuster and London banking partner Sean Pierce.