Simmons & Simmons has elected finance and litigation partner Caroline Hunter-Yeats to its board, replacing energy partner and Africa group co-chair Patrick Wallace after his four-year term came to an end.

Wallace remains a partner in the energy and projects team and co-chair of the firm's Africa group. He worked in both roles while on the board. 

The firm has also re-elected London finance partner and UK banking head Alyson Lockett for another term.

Simmons board members typically serve a four-year term but are not required to do so. 

Lockett joined the firm as partner from Allen & Overy in 2008, while Hunter-Yeats has also been a partner at the firm since 2008 after joining in 1997.

They were both elected by partnership vote. 

The news comes after the firm last October signed up former Olympus chief executive and whistleblower Michael Woodford as a non-exec director on the board.

Other London representatives on the firm's 12-strong board include senior partner and board chairman Colin Passmore, managing partner Jeremy Hoyland, IT partner Alex Brown, non-exec director Rodger Hughes, financial director David McLaughlin and business development director David Staiano.

On an international level, the board includes Hong Kong employment partner Fiona Loughery, Dusseldorf intellectual property partner Peter Meyer and Amsterdam corporate partner Leo Verhoeff.