Mallesons Stephen Jaques has appointed a new chairman with M&A partner Tim Bednall set to take up the role at the beginning of January.

Bednall (pictured) will succeed current chairman Frank Zipfinger, whose five-year term comes to an end on 31 December. Bednall has been a partner with Mallesons since 2004 when he joined from Australian rival Allens Arthur Robinson, where he was head of M&A.