Norton Rose Fulbright's global head of energy Simon Currie is to relocate from London to Sydney – citing regional energy deals as "of critical importance".

Currie, who is originally from New Zealand, will transfer to Australia in January 2015, having spent more than 17 years in London building the practice in Europe.

Peter Martyr, chief executive of the firm whose background is in energy-related disputes, said the move demonstrated NRF's commitment to growing the energy practice in Asia Pacific.

He added that Currie would play an important role in connecting the firm's teams across the Americas, Africa, Middle East and Europe.

Coinciding with Currie's relocation, the current head of energy in Paris Anne Lapierre will assume the position of head of energy for Europe, Middle East and Africa; while the firm's energy chief for Asia-Pacific Vincent Dwyer will relocate from Sydney to Singapore to join Nick Dingemans in the city-state, who recently transferred from Moscow.

NRF now has a network of seven offices in Asia, and was among the first UK firms to enter Australia through a merger with Deacons in 2010.

That same year the firm hired Ashurst partner Ashley Wright to lead the Asia-Pacific oil and gas team, and has since continued to focus on the regional energy practice. 

In Singapore it is among a group of just nine firms with local or a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licence, while it also has an associated office in Indonesia.