Former King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) global managing partner Stuart Fuller has joined KPMG Australia as head of legal.

Fuller stepped down from the post in November last year, following a turbulent period for the European arm of the firm that culminated in its collapse in January. He subsequently returned to fee-earning in the banking and finance practice of the Australian arm of the firm.

He was succeeded as KWM global managing partner by Australian partner Sue Kench earlier this year.

Fuller, who was managing partner of legacy Mallesons Stephen Jaques, was appointed managing partner of KWM in March 2012 when the Australian firm merged withChina's King & Wood.

During his time at the helm of the firm, Fuller played a key role on the merger of KWM and SJ Berwin, which went live in November 2013.

He was reappointed in 2015 for a five-year term before stepping down last year – two months before KWM's European arm entered administration.

KWM Australia chief executive partner Berkeley Cox said: "As a partner at this firm for over 20 years, former global managing partner and leader at a critical time in our history, his contribution has been invaluable.

"We wish him every success in his new venture and thank him for his many years of tireless service to the firm."

Stuart first joined Mallesons in 1990 and held several other leadership roles during his 27 years at the firm, including a brief stint as chief executive partner based in Sydney and Hong Kong in early 2012, managing partner of Malleson's Sydney office between 2006 and 2011, and practice team leader of the banking & finance group.

In August, KWM appointed its first EUME managing partner since the collapse, with China M&A partner Wang Rongkang relocating to London to take up the new role. Tim Bednall previously headed up the EUME operations before returning to fee-earning in the Australian M&A practice in Sydney at the same time as Fuller.

KPMG recently made two other senior legal hires in the UK, with Eversheds Sutherland M&A partner Richard Lewis appointed as head of its London corporate legal team, and Shoosmiths partner Emma Gibson joining to establish a legal services hub in Reading.