Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Dubai corporate partner Pervez Akhtar as regional managing partner for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Akhtar (pictured) took up a three-year term in the role with effect from 1 October, replacing M&A partner Bertrand Pellet.

Akhtar joined Freshfields from Allen & Overy as head of corporate for MENA in December last year. He will now hold the two roles simultaneously, effectively replacing Pellet in both positions as Pellet, who was seconded to Dubai from Paris in September 2010, had also served as MENA corporate head until Akhtar joined.

Akhtar said: "MENA is a very important market for the firm given its strategic location and resilient economies.

"We have a strong multi-practice offering which, despite a prolonged global slowdown, has grown markedly over the last few years and provides top quality legal advice to businesses investing into the region and to local corporates and funds looking offshore."

Akhtar's practice covers M&A, private equity, joint ventures, management buy-outs, equity issues and initial public offerings.

News of Ahktar's new role comes as Freshfields has made an out-of-season partner promotion in Asia. The firm has bulked up its partnership in China with the promotion of capital markets counsel Richard Wang in Beijing, effective 1 October.

Wang joined Freshfields in 2007 and has spent two periods on secondment with Goldman Sachs since starting. He takes the total number of partners in Freshfield's Beijing office to three.