Herbert Smith Freehills has named global head of dispute resolution Sonya Leydecker and managing partner Mark Rigotti as its new joint chief executives.

Current CEOs David Willis and Gavin Bell will step down next April having held the roles since legacy firms Herbert Smith and Freehills merged last October.

The new appointments – which will take effect from 1 May 2014 for a three year term – follow a recommendation by the firm's global council, which was subsequently approved by partners.

Legal Week reported last week that Leydecker was in the running for the post, while London managing partner Ian Cox was also understood to have been in the picture.

Leydecker joined the firm in 1984 and was promoted to partner in 1991. She was head of disputes at Herbert Smith from April 2005 to October 2012 and became global head of disputes of HSF following the merger on 1 October 2012.

Rigotti was head of banking and finance at Freehills from January 2004 until November 2005 and head of corporate at Freehills from November 2005 until February 2008. He was the Australian managing partner for clients until the merger in 2012 when he became managing partner for clients and industries. Both sit on the executive board.

Senior partner Jonathan Scott said: "Appointing new leaders represents a further important post-merger milestone, and in Sonya and Mark we are fortunate to have two partners who will bring to the role a powerful combination of management skills, leadership ability and practice experience. These strengths will provide a strong platform on which to carry out their responsibilities and help deliver our strategy.

"With new leadership and strong work flows, particularly in the UK and Australia, we are excited about the prospects for 2014."

Deputy senior partner Mark Crean added: "This is a terrific note on which to end what has been a strong first full calendar year for us, marked by the many opportunities we have been given to show how our enhanced capability can benefit clients."