Allen & Overy (A&O) antitrust partner Michael Reynolds has been appointed as the new president of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Reynolds, who launched A&O's Brussels office in 1979, where he has since been based, will now hold the position for two years.

He succeeds Akira Kawamura, a corporate and litigation of counsel at top Japanese law firm Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, who has held the role since January 2011.

Reynolds (pictured) will take up the mantle on 1 January alongside Debevoise & Plimpton litigation partner David Rivkin, who has been appointed vice-president, and, Martin Solc, the managing partner of Czech firm Kocian Solc Balastik, who is now secretary-general.

Other appointments have seen A&L Goodbody consultant Michael Greene appointed chair of the legal practice division; Luther environmental, competition and international trade law partner Gabrielle Williamson named chair of the section on public and professional interest; and Horacio Bernardes-Neto, of Brazil's Motta Fernandes Rocha Advogados, appointed as chair of the bar issues commission.

Before he took up his post, Reynolds was the IBA vice-president. He has also previously held a number of senior positions at the organisation, including secretary-general, chair of the legal practice division and chair of the antitrust and trade law Committee. He is a director and founding member of the IBA's Global Forum on Competition and is the European Union co-ordinator for the IBA.

In his role, Reynolds will aim to strengthen the IBA's engagement with legal professionals around the world, with a particular focus on the BRIC economies; and other emerging markets in Asia and Africa.

He will also push forward with the IBA's work in relation to climate change targets.

Reynolds said in a statement: "During my presidency I shall be focusing particularly on the impact of climate change on all of us, but especially on the disadvantaged.

"We will also look at other ways of how the lives of the underprivileged are being destabilised, and will focus on ways to enhance or preserve their access to justice."