Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has overhauled its City management with corporate head Mark Rawlinson taking up the role of London managing partner from incumbent Tim Jones.

Rawlinson will start in the new position on 1 July for a term running until December 2013. Jones will return to fee earning in the corporate department, while corporate partner Julian Long will take over as corporate chief from Rawlinson.

Jones has been London head since 2007, while Rawlinson was appointed to lead the corporate group in April 2008, taking up the reins from Jones.

Rawlinson, who has been a partner at Freshfields since 1990, said: "One of the main attractions of the new role is that it will allow me to increase my time with clients and to help all of London work together to provide a cohesive service.

"The people side of the role is very important to me and I will be looking at ways to improve communication as well as trying to improve work/life balance. Inclusion and diversity will also be high on the agenda."

The news follows the firm's appointment of a new global diversity committee earlier this month, handing a further three partners responsibility for diversity issues in London.

Internal communications head Kate Laffar has been appointed as leader of the firm's global diversity and inclusion team, with Rawlinson and intellectual property partner Avril Martindale also appointed to the committee as of 1 June.