DLA Piper’s former UK managing partner Andrew Darwin is to return to the firm’s offices in London after a two-year stint overseeing its operations in Australia.

Darwin, who relocated to Sydney in January 2013 on what was understood at the time to be a troubleshooting mission, will continue to work as the firm’s international chief operating officer but will not resume his role as UK head, which was previously handed over to IP partner Mark O’Connor.