Herbert Smith Freehils (HSF) has appointed corporate partner Gavin Davies as its new global head of M&A.

He is taking over the role from Stephen Wilkinson, who has become managing partner of the firm's clients and sectors group. Wilkinson will continue in a fee-earning role. Recent mandates include advising Sky on its £11.7bn offer from 21st Century Fox.

Davies (pictured) joined legacy Herbert Smith in 1992 and made partner in 2000. Between 2006 and 2013, he headed up the firm's private equity and financial investors practice.

Last year, he advised the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the £2.3bn sale of the Green Investment Bank to Australia's Macquarie.

Other mandates he has acted on include advising on US technology company Arris Group's $2.1bn (£1.4bn) acquisition of UK TV set-top box maker Pace in 2015, and AOL's $850m (£421m) acquisition of social networking website Bebo in 2008.

The global head of M&A role is separate to the firm's global head of corporate post, which is held by City partner Scott Cochrane.

Cochrane said: "We are delighted that Gavin has agreed to take this on. He is a recognised heavyweight in the M&A market with a global client base. As someone with boundless passion and energy for client engagement, pursuing opportunities and executing deals, he is a natural choice."

Davies added: "I am looking forward to the role and to working with the outstanding group of talented partners and associates in our M&A network. We enjoyed a fantastic end to 2017 and I am positive on the outlook for 2018 and our continued success."

Former global M&A head Wilkinson, meanwhile, is succeeding Australia partner Geoff McClellan as managing partner of clients and sectors, a post that was also previously held by current CEO Mark Rigotti.

Rigotti has been HSF's sole CEO since May last year, when the firm phased out its joint leadership structure. He works in tandem with senior partner James Palmer, whose current leadership term is up for renewal this year.

HSF recently voted through changes to its remuneration system, which will extend the top of its lockstep in an effort to attract and retain top talent. The firm's star performers will now be able to move above the previous 100-point top of lockstep into an 'extension zone' reaching up to 130 points.