News International (NI) has appointed a new general counsel with the hire of WorldPay senior legal counsel Paul Chinnery.

Chinnery started at NI this month, taking over from interim GC and Allen & Overy (A&O) corporate partner Simon Toms.

Toms took over the role on a temporary basis when former NI director of legal affairs Jonathan Chapman stepped down from the position in August last year. Toms was made up to partner at the magic circle firm this month.

Prior to joining online payment processing site WorldPay, Chinnery was director of legal affairs at Channel 5.

He was made redundant from the broadcaster in August 2010 as part of a staff overhaul after the purchase of the TV network by Richard Desmond's company Northern & Shell in July of that year.

NI chief executive Tom Mockridge said: "We now have a great team in place to continue the work underway in changing how we operate as a business. This means rigorous adherence to high standards and compliance with new procedures."

Chinnery will be responsible for the legal issues surrounding editorial, compliance and commercial activity at NI.

The news comes after former NI legal manager Tom Crone was criticised earlier this month for allegedly misleading the Parliamentary committee investigating the phone-hacking scandal.

Crone responded in a statement saying that he does "not accept that he gave misleading evidence", and that he is "the subject of serious allegations which lack foundation".