Clifford Chance (CC) has appointed Melissa Fogarty and Nigel Wellings to take over from Mark Poulton as co-heads of the London corporate practice.

The duo will begin their four-year terms on 1 July 2018.

Fogarty specialises in domestic and cross border M&A and has previously worked on deals including advising Citigroup on its disposal of interests in the EMI Group, and acting for International Power on its $20bn combination with GDF Suez. She has also been actively involved in the firm's diversity initiatives and its best delivery initiative, playing a role in CC's recent acquisition of Carillion's legal services arm in Newcastle.

Private equity partner Wellings focuses on European and energy market private equity. He previously spent five years in Dubai and has worked for clients including Carlyle, Aujan Industries and Carrefour.

Guy Norman, CC's global head of corporate, said: "Our UK corporate practice has flourished in a challenging market environment under Mark's leadership. I'd like to thank him for his extremely valuable contribution to the practice, particularly given the unprecedented geopolitical change in the UK during his term.

"Melissa and Nigel are the perfect pair to take the leadership of the group forward, bringing to the role diverse and complimentary skills and a good rapport, both with each other and the wider team. I very much look forward to working with them."