Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has signalled its commitment to its China practice with the firm relocating two partners from London and appointing its first-ever local chairman.

China managing partner Teresa Ko (pictured) is set to take on a new client-facing role as chairman of the China practice on 1 May, with her local management responsibilities passing onto Asia managing partner Rob Ashworth.

Ko will instead be responsible for developing Freshfields' roster of new and existing Chinese clients, expanding the capital markets practice, as well as working with Chinese regulators. She is currently chairman of the listing committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, as well as deputy chair of the takeovers and mergers panel of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.

Separately, the firm is strengthening its presence in China with the relocation of City competition partner Jenny Connolly and City corporate partner Simon Weller to the firm's Shanghai and Hong Kong offices in the coming months. Additionally, corporate partners Melissa Thomas and Jack Wang will relocate from Shanghai to Beijing in June.

Ashworth said: "We have the leading initial public offering and M&A franchises in the China region and our international clients are becoming even more active there. We are also building great relationships with major Chinese corporations and institutions, which are increasingly requesting our help outside of China, so it is important for us to keep investing in these areas."

Ko has also been elected to the firm's global partnership council, taking over the Asia seat from Ashworth.