Hogan Lovells has appointed a new general counsel for its offices outside of the U.S. following the departure of former general counsel Frances Le Grys.

Effective from January 1, 2020, London-based litigation, arbitration and employment partner Nick Atkins has becomes the new GC for Hogan Lovells International LLP.

Atkins has been at Hogan Lovells for 36 years, according to the firm, making partner in 1996 and co-chairing the insurance disputes practice for ten years. He is expected to combine his new role with his ongoing client work.

Having acted as deputy to the former GC for "a number of years", a person at the firm said Atkins was Le Grys' "natural" successor.

A spokesperson for the firm said in a statement to Legal Week: "As one of our most experienced litigators, he has consistently displayed the skills needed for a general counsel position, and we wish him the greatest success as he takes on the new role."

Before becoming GC, the departing Le Grys was previously an M&A partner at the firm, becoming GC for the international LLP in 2011, according to her LinkedIn profile.

On December 31, 2020, Le Grys retired from the partnership and left the firm, according to a spokesperson for the firm. Litigation partner Peter Bisio, meanwhile, remains general counsel for Hogan Lovells' U.S. LLP.

Last month, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer also appointed a new GC, with chief legal officer Jonathan Kembery taking the reins from incumbent Colin Hargreaves in May 2020.