Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed corporate partners Simon Marchant and Ben Spiers to co-head its London M&A practice in a first time role for the magic circle firm.

Marchant and Spiers have taken up their new positions as City M&A co-heads for a two-year term. The roles have been created to share responsibility more widely within the London corporate team, with the duo set to work alongside City corporate head Julian Long. The pair take the helm of one of London’s top transactional teams.