Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, the European and Asian litigation practice head of Debevoise & Plimpton, has been appointed co-managing partner of the US firm's London office.

Lord Goldsmith will lead the London office alongside UK tax practice head Richard Ward, replacing corporate partner James Scoville, who is returning to full-time practice after eight years in the role.

The appointments are the first time the firm has elected UK-qualified lawyers to lead the City office.

Lord Goldsmith is a barrister and solicitor who specialises in international dispute resolution, arbitration, white collar crime and corporate investigations. He joined Debevoise in 2007, after six years as the UK Government's Attorney General.

Ward, who joined the firm in 2004 from Bird & Bird, represents clients on UK corporate and transactional matters, and is currently advising Hong Kong-based life insurer AIA Group in a landmark partnership with Citibank across 11 markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Thanks in no small part to Jim's leadership, we now have the kind of strength in London that allows us to take some significant strides forward," said Debevoise presiding partner Michael Blair. "Our offering in London is more impressive than it's ever been."

Under Scoville's tenure, the London office has increased its headcount by 60% to more than 80 lawyers, led by a group of 20 partners and 12 international counsel. Most recently, the firm hired litigation partners Kevin Lloyd and Tony Dymond from Herbert Smith Freehills.

"Richard and I are greatly looking forward to our shared leadership and the opportunities ahead," said Goldsmith. "We are confident there will be further significant developments under our joint tenure in the quality and scale of the firm's English law practices from its new Gresham Street offices."

A close ally of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Lord Goldsmith oversaw some of Whitehall's most controversial decisions under New Labour, including the legality of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the decision to terminate the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into the Saudi Arms deal with BAE Systems.