Reed Smith has appointed Hong Kong partner Denise Jong as the firm's next Asia-Pacific managing partner, succeeding former Richards Butler managing partner Roger Parker.

Jong will take over from Parker on 1 January next year, becoming the first Asia-based partner to hold a regional leadership position since the 2008 merger of US firm Reed Smith and the UK's Richards Butler.

Parker, who has overseen Asia from his base in London during the past decade, is retiring from the firm's partnership and will become a senior counsel.