Australian corporate firm Clayton Utz and Baker McKenzie in Australia have appointed women leaders for the first time, the latest of several law firms to refresh their management as the year winds down.

At Clayton Utz, Emma Covacevich will take over from Bruce Cooper as chief executive partner on July 1 next year, while at Baker McKenzie Anne-Marie Allgrove will succeed Antony Foley as managing partner in Australia on the same day.