Herbert Smith's former corporate chief Michael Walter is set to relocate to Singapore to take up a new role as Southeast Asia managing partner, as the UK top 10 law firm looks to expand its corporate footprint in the region and nears an opening in South Korea.

Walter will move to Singapore in July, when he will take over from capital markets partner Austin Sweeney, who is relocating to Hong Kong.

Walter has been charged with drawing up a strategy to expand the firm's presence across Southeast Asia over the next four years, particularly in corporate and M&A.

Particular areas of focus will include Burma, Vietnam and Kuala Lumpur, where the firm has seen an increasing amount of activity.

Asia head Mark Johnson said: "During his five-year tenure as corporate head, Michael focused on internationalising the division, deeper penetration of multinational clients – particularly at board level – and widening the breadth of contacts within the investment banks, legacies which the Asia offices will benefit from."

Walter's move comes as the firm shuffles two further positions in the region, with Hong Kong-based Asia energy head Anna Howell set to split her time between London and Beijing, while City projects and energy partner David Clinch will relocate to Hong Kong.

Separately, Herbert Smith is awaiting its licence approval to launch in Seoul, with the firm hoping to open the base in October, with two City partners set to relocate. The firm is also set to make a final decision on whether to open an office in Guinea this month, in a move that would make it one of the first UK law firms to open in Africa outside South Africa.