Linklaters has appointed former Asia corporate chief Stuart Bedford as its new London head of corporate, replacing Sarah Wiggins after just four months in the role.

The move is the latest of several reshuffles in Linklaters' corporate practice this year. Wiggins, who  took on the role on London corporate head in May becoming the first female partner to do so, was originally given a four-year term by then global practice head Jeremy Parr.

In July, however, Wiggins was appointed to the newly created role of global head of client sectors, which she formally took on this month.

At the same time, Parr himself was replaced as global corporate head by Matthew Middleditch, another Asia former Asia chief.

Bedford, who has led Linklaters' Singapore office since 2009, has broad experience of private and public M&A, joint ventures and capital raisings. His four-year term begins with immediate effect.

Middleditch said: "With the M&A market gathering pace and with our London-based clients consistently at the forefront of major cross-border M&A activity right across the world, Stuart's extensive cross-border expertise, across Africa and Asia in particular, means he brings tremendous global experience and insight to this role."