Debevoise's European and Asian litigation practice head, Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, has been appointed vice chair of Hong Kong's arbitration body in an overhaul of its management structure.

ord Goldsmith, the UK Government's former Attorney General, will also sit alongside co-vice chair John Budge from Wilkinson & Grist and four other lawyers from international firms on a newly-created executive committee.

Based in London, Goldsmith was earlier this year made co-managing partner of Debevoise's London office, but is visiting Asia regularly to develop the firm's regional disputes practice.

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) said it had revised its organisational structure with a view to strengthening its services to users.

The executive  group, which will continue to report to the 24-member council board, replaces the HKIAC management committee and separate secretariat, and is tasked with handling the HKIAC's finance and administration as well as arbitration proceedings and arbitrator appointments.

The remaining lawyers on the committee include the new chair of the HKIAC Teresa Cheng, and disputes lawyers Matthew Gearing from Allen & Overy, Justin D'Agostino from Herbert Smith Freehills and Kathryn Sanger from Clifford Chance.

Other changes at the HKIAC include the appointment of eight new disputes practitioners to the international advisory board and six new council members.

The international advisory board, which has grown from 16 to 24 members, now includes independent arbitrator Karl-Heinz B