Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has reshuffled its global corporate and litigation practice heads as the firm gears up for the election of a new senior partner in the new year.

German partner Rick van Aerssen will become the magic circle firm's new corporate head, replacing Ed Braham as of 1 November. M&A specialist Braham has been tipped to succeed current senior partner Will Lawes, who is expected to stand down when his term ends next year

Corporate and finance partner van Aerssen currently splits his time between the firm's Frankfurt and Munich offices, focusing on capital markets and M&A advice to listed companies and financial institutions.

Litigation partner David Scott will replace Christopher Pugh as global litigation head on 1 January. Pugh has been in the role since 2009, serving one term with a two year extension.

Whereas van Aerssen has no experience as a department head, Scott will move from heading up Freshfields' financial institutions disputes group in London to the global role.

Pugh has also been tipped for higher office as a potential candidate to take over from managing partner David Aitman, who stepped into the role in January to take over from Ted Burke, who retired from the firm halfway through his term to join Boston private equity house Arclight Capital as its general counsel.

The firm's employment, pensions and benefits group will also have a new global head as Caroline Stroud, previously co-head of Freshfields' London employment team, succeeds Nick Squire in the role.

All three appointments are for four years. Freshfields' constitution preventing practice area heads standing for more than two terms.