Clifford Chance (CC) has appointed two new partners to oversee its Perth base following the departure of former office head Michael Lishman to Australian investment bank Gresham Partners.

Corporate partners Paul Vinci and Jon Carson have been named as leaders of the office, with Vinci taking the title of managing partner and Carson as senior partner, effective 31 January.

CC's Asia-Pacific Peter Charlton said in a statement that both partners were well regarded in the Australian legal market.

Vinci specialises in M&A and capital markets, and has been a lawyer at the legacy firm Cochrane Lishman since 2006.

He made partner at the firm within two years, and previously worked for Mallesons Stephen Jaques, now King & Wood Mallesons.

Carson focuses on energy and resources, and has more than 30 years' experience on project development, utilities regulation, investments and M&A in the sector.

He joined the legacy firm in 2010, when it was known as Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe – was previously a partner at Jackson Macdonald and Blake Dawson, now Ashurst.

CC debuted in Australia in 2011, merging with Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe in Perth and Chang Pistilli & Simmons (CPS) in Sydney – both boutique firms.

Lishman's exit from the firm was announced in October, less than a year after fellow Cochrane Lishman founder Ian Cochrane also retired from CC's partnership.

The magic circle firm now has 70 lawyers across its two offices in Perth and Sydney.

In June Charlton admitted that Australia had been a tough market, but said the firm would continue to focus on high-end M&A in Sydney and projects work in Perth, and look to grow its litigation and finance capabilities in both cities.

He said there was a possibility that the firm may develop a separate capital markets practice in Australia, but it was not aiming to be a big player in the country.