Linklaters has hired a new global head of Islamic finance, with the appointment of former Norton Rose partner Neil Miller.

Miller, who will be based in Dubai, joins from accountancy firm KPMG, where he was a partner and head of Islamic finance.

His hire follows a long search by Linklaters for a replacement for former post-holder Luma Saqqaf, who left to pursue a career in executive coaching in 2009.

During his more than 20-year stint with Norton Rose, Miller helped to build and lead the firm's Islamic finance practice, leaving in 2011 to join KPMG. At the time he said: "I have decided to leave the law and take a new direction within the Islamic finance field."

Linklaters Dubai-based Islamic finance head Richard O'Callaghan said: "Neil's appointment will allow us to build our product range and offering in a rapidly growing area of finance.

"Islamic finance mandates, as well as initial enquiries on the structuring of future deals, are being seen in an increasingly broad range of countries. Recent regulatory changes in a number of interesting markets, especially emerging countries such as Egypt, offer further opportunities for our Islamic finance team as well."

Linklaters has made a number of lateral partner hires in recent months, with the firm recruiting two financial regulatory partners for its London arm from Herbert Smith Freehills – Nikunj Kiri and Martyn Hopper - between September and January this year. It has subsequently made partner hires in locations including Germany and Singapore.