Taylor Wessing has appointed Mark Fraser as its new Middle East managing partner to succeed Christopher Dixon when he steps down next month.

Dubai-based construction partner Fraser joined Taylor Wessing in 2010 from Hammonds, a legacy firm of Squire Sanders.

His practice focuses on contentious and non-contentious construction and engineering law, arbitration and insurance law in the Middle East, UK and Hong Kong.

Taylor Wessing merged with Dubai ally Key & Dixon in 2008 after establishing a formal association with the boutique in 2003. Name partner Dixon, who was name partner at the legacy firm, has held the managing partner role since the merger.

Dixon has said that he will remain "actively involved" in Taylor Wessing's Middle East strategy.

He said: "We have a very strong management team in place and I am confident Mark's skillset and knowledge of the wider firm will play a key role in achieving our ambitions of being the premier global law firm in the region."

The firm's Dubai office, its only on-the-ground presence in the region, is staffed by five partners and 16 additional lawyers, according to the firm's website.

Last month corporate partner Hasan Rizvi left Taylor Wessing's Dubai base to join Canadian law firm Bennett Jones.