Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed a new global people partner as incumbent Caroline Stroud steps down from the role.

Amsterdam-based corporate partner Richard Norbruis is set to take up the position as of 1 May for a three-year term. Stroud will return to full-time fee earning in the employment practice.

Norbruis (pictured) is only the second person to hold the role at the firm after it was created in May 2008.

Freshfields managing partner Ted Burke said: "Under Caroline's guidance and with the support of our global HR team, we have made enormous strides in our approach to recruitment, development and engagement at all levels.
"I would like to thank Caroline for her outstanding leadership during the last three years."

Norbruis is set to outline priorities for the next few years in the coming weeks and will be charged with progressing some of the current HR projects, including the implementation of the career milestones system, the promotion of diversity objectives and efforts to boost employee engagement.

He will continue to handle client work alongside his new role.

Freshfields was yesterday included in The Times' annual Top 50 Employers for Women list for the first time.

The firm has been attempting to boost diversity in recent months with a number of new initiatives, including unconscious bias training, emergency childcare and increased support for management of maternity leave.