Eversheds has appointed a new office head in Leeds, as current post-holder Keith Froud prepares to take up a global role leading the firm's commercial practice.

The firm has named regional employment chief Paul Cotton as the new head of the Leeds office, with effect from 1 May, when Froud takes up his new post. Cotton will continue to serve as local employment head as well as Leeds office head.

Froud's role managing the Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle company commercial group is to be split between Peter McCormack, who will become Leeds company commercial head, and Simon Masters and Charles Reynard, who take on responsibility in Manchester and Newcastle respectively.

Cotton has been at Eversheds since 1998 and has been a partner since 2000. He advises on the employment aspects of M&A, restructuring and corporate reorganisations.

Cotton said: "The key thing for us in Leeds at the moment is to focus on the region in terms of growth and business. Over the next 12 months we will be looking to develop our regional and international network as well as getting closer to our regional contacts and local organisations."

Froud is set to replace Peter Halpin as company commercial group head, with Halpin taking up the newly-created role of client services director. Froud has been gradually passing over the Leeds office head position to Cotton since January this year.