Sullivan & Cromwell has overhauled its City management with former Europe M&A head Richard Morrissey appointed as London managing partner, replacing current incumbents Rob Schlein and Vanessa Blackmore.

Morrissey's appointment comes as corporate partner Craig Jones has been handed the first-time role of London office administrative partner, with Tim Emmerson taking over as Europe M&A head from Morrissey.

Morrissey has also stepped down from his role as co-head of the firm's global private equity group, with fellow co-head George Sampas continuing to lead the practice, while Jones is one of the firm's English law qualified partners with a practice focusing on strategic financing.

All of the new appointments are effective from today (1 July), with no fixed terms. Schlein and Blackmore will continue with client work in the real estate and capital markets practices respectively, with Schlein splitting his time between New York and London.

Sullivan chairman Joseph Shenker said: "Europe is a key component to our global growth strategy, and Richard, Craig and Tim will continue to guide our efforts in this area."

The news follows the hire of Simmons & Simmons white collar crime partner Louise Delahunty as a European counsel for the firm's London office in May this year, shortly after Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer finance partner Presley Warner joined the firm in February.

Sullivan also launched a Hong Kong law practice with the hire of Freshfields' Hong Kong managing partner Kay Ian Ng last month.