Davis Polk & Wardwell has announced that corporate head Thomas Reid has been elected managing partner of the US firm, reports The Am Law Daily.

Reid, who was born in Kircaldy in Scotland, is the first managing partner in Davis Polk's history born outside the US. He attended the University of Edinburgh School of Law and Columbia Law School.

He is succeeding John Ettinger, who stepped down in February after 12 years in the role. Reid has spent the past three years serving on Davis Polk's management committee as head of the firm's corporate department.

He has also been heavily involved in Davis Polk's financial institutions practice and international strategy, after joining the US firm as an associate in 1987 and making partner in 1995.

Aside from a three-year stint from 2000 to 2003 as a managing director at Morgan Stanley, he has been with Davis Polk his entire career and has spent time in the firm's London and New York offices.

Ettinger, who joined Davis Polk in 1979, has remained at the firm as a partner. His 12 years as managing partner give him the longest tenure in the top Davis Polk job since since Henry King held the title from 1984 to 1996.

Joining Reid and litigation head Carey Dunne on the firm's three-person management committee is partner John Bick, who will take up the head of corporate role.

Meanwhile, fellow US firm Foley & Lardner has confirmed that corporate partner Jay Rothman will take over as chairman and CEO as of 1 June. Rothman succeeds current chair Ralf Boer, who will step down in June after nine years in the post and 20 years on the firm's management committee.

The Am Law Daily is a US affiliate title of Legal Week.