Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed its first-ever chief operating officer for its US arm, with the hire of Sullivan & Cromwell's former chief legal personnel and development officer.

Andrea Locklear started at the magic circle firm this month. She was most recently managing director of New York corporate recruitment firm FPC, prior to which she was at Sullivan for 10 years.

She has also worked as a legal manager at Debevoise & Plimpton, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Mayer Brown.

At Freshfields she will be responsible for the management of the magic circle firm's US business services functions outside of business development and finance.

Freshfields US managing partner Julian Pritchard said: "Our engagement of Andrea reflects our commitment to client service, efficient, innovative business services functions, and the development of all our people. It also reflects the firm's focus on recruiting the very top talent as we continue to grow our practice here."

The news comes as the firm has also moved to launch a new global financial investors group, in a bid to respond to the globalisation of investors and private equity houses' business.

London corporate partner David Higgins and Cologne corporate partner Ludwig Leyendecker will head up the group, which will comprise around 100 partners and 200 associates across the firm.

The new practice group will focus on advising private equity houses, infrastructure funds, sovereign wealth funds and alternative capital providers.

Leyendecker said: "As we continue to see an increase in major global financial investors converging their investment strategies and diversifying their investment portfolios by operating on a global basis, it's essential that we adapt our own offering to match even more closely their need for expertise."