Netherlands-based law firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has appointed a new managing partner, alongside a refreshed managing committee.

Arbitration lawyer Marnix Leijten takes over as managing partner from Geert Potjewijd, who will return to practice.

The firm is part of a European network of 'best friend' law firms that include Slaughter and May, France's Bredin Prat, Italian firm BonelliErede, German powerhouse Hengeler Mueller, and Spain's Uría Menéndez.

Meanwhile, the firm has also refreshed its managing committee, to start on January 1, 2020, and will include corporate and M&A partner Anja Mutsaers, who becomes the firm's new practice head. Taking the reins from partners Bommel van der Bend and Bernard Spoor, she will lead the firm's entire litigation and corporate practice, as well as a team of regulatory experts.

Speaking about the appointments in a statement, Leijten said: "I am proud to lead De Brauw together with Anja.

"The firm forms a uniquely strong collective, and the quality of our people is impressively high. We have the ambition to both further strengthen De Brauw's market-leading position in the Netherlands as well as further accelerating the growth of our international practice."

The Amsterdam-based outfit is yet to announce a new external non-lawyer board member who will also form part of the new managing committee.

Last year, the firm saw its revenue grow to £147.5 million, having increased its revenue by more than 13% since 2016.