Jones Day has appointed partner Anna Cartwright to lead its London corporate practice, in a change of its longstanding City guard.

She takes over the role from partner Giles Elliot, who had led the practice since 2011.

Cartwright joined the legacy Gouldens office as an associate in 2003 and was made up to partner nine years later, and has acted on several significant deals since then.

She co-led the firm's team advising real estate company Delancey's flagship client fund, DV4, on its £1.6 billion joint venture in 2016.

The following year, she advised European real estate investment platform Henderson on its £500 million purchase of the London and Birmingham Hilton Metropole hotels group.

Elliot took over from former City corporate head John Philips in 2011, when Philips was appointed office senior partner.

Cartwright's appointment expands the small pool of women in top roles at firms.

However, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has helped buck that trend, appointing two women to senior roles in the City so far this year. Litigation partner Sarah Parkes was appointed City litigation head, while corporate partner Claire Wills was named London managing partner.