DLA Piper has appointed corporate M&A partner Tom Heylen as managing partner of its London office, succeeding Lord Clement-Jones, who is stepping down after six years in the role.

The Liberal Democrat peer, who will remain a partner in the firm's international trade, regulatory affairs and government affairs practice, joined DLA in 1999 and spent 10 years as co-chairman of the firm's government relations practice.

He was previously legal director of home retailer Kingfisher and was head of legal services at London Weekend Television from 1986 to 1995.

Heylen, who will take up the role in January, has been an elected board member for four years. His practice focuses on corporate M&A and private equity, with key clients including online retailer Amazon, real estate investment company Jones Lang LaSalle and construction company Lendlease.

DLA UK managing partner Sandra Wallace said that during the past six years, Clement-Jones had "driven the external face of DLA Piper in the City".

She added that Heylen has been "a very successful and effective board member and corporate partner for a number of years and displays all the strengths and attributes that are required to lead an office of this size".

Heylen said: "My primary focus will be promoting collaboration and teamwork; not only within the London office but between London and the rest of the world."

DLA has gone through a number of management changes in recent years, with intellectual property partner Simon Levine taking over from Nigel Knowles as co-CEO in January 2015. Knowles retired as a partner earlier this year, with Juan Picon succeeding him as global co-chair and senior partner of the international LLP.