Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed Australia chair Tricia Hobson as its first female global chair.

Sydney litigation partner Hobson will replace London partner Stephen Parish in the ambassadorial role for a one-year term from 1 January. She will continue to serve as Australia chair and lead the Australia and Asia-Pacific insurance practice alongside her global responsibilities.

Parish will continue to serve as the firm's chair for Europe, the Middle East and Asia, having been reappointed for a third three-year term in 2015. His term is due to expire in April 2018.

Hobson said: "I am honoured to be the first female partner appointed to the global chair role. I look forward to working with my talented colleagues around the world to ensure our clients receive the highest quality advice, wherever they may be located."

The firm's global chief executive Peter Martyr said: "The appointment of Tricia Hobson to the role of global chair for Norton Rose Fulbright demonstrates the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the development of our global business. Tricia's knowledge and extensive experience of working within the global insurance industry will be invaluable as we look to grow our practice."

Martyr is also due to start a new term leading the global firm on 1 January, having been reappointed for his sixth spell at the helm.

He was confirmed in the role by Norton Rose's  global partnership this June and by the end of his new term will have led the firm for more than 18 years. He first took the reins as chief executive of legacy UK firm Norton Rose in 2002.