Sky has promoted former Olswang partner Claire Canning to the role of general counsel for its U.K. and Ireland operations.

Currently Sky's head of legal for content and commercial, Canning will take up the role that will be left by Vicky Sandry, who was selected to take over as group general counsel when incumbent postholder James Conyers retires this summer. Canning will take up the new position on July 1, the firm announced today (April 10).

Prior to joining Sky 13 years ago as head counsel for channels and operations, Canning had been at legacy firm Olswang since 1998, having made partner in the firm's TMT practice in 2002, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She had completed her training at Clifford Chance, becoming an associate at the Magic Circle firm in 1997.

In a statement, Canning said: "Sky will continue to be at the forefront of innovation as part of the wider Comcast family, further enhancing our ability to do more, move faster and better connect our customers to more of what they love."

Canning has been part of Sky's effort to create partnerships with BT and Netflix and to bring about the renewal of Sky's Premier League deal, a spokesperson for the firm said.

Last year, Sky was bought by Comcast for £30 billion, following a fierce bidding war with Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. Herbert Smith Freehills led for Sky on the deal, with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Davis Polk leading for Comcast.