Law firm Clifford Chance has appointed Mark Hyde as Asia Pacific finance practice area leader.

Currently the firm’s global head of restructuring and insolvency, Hyde will relocate to Hong Kong in 2013 to serve a four-year term in his new position. He will replace Huw Jenkins, who has been head of the Asia Pacific finance practice since 2001. Jenkins will move on to the firm’s energy and infrastructure group.

Hyde joined Clifford Chance in 1984 and became a partner in 1993. After 15 years at the head of the firm’s restructuring and insolvency practice in London, he will be replaced by David Steinberg and Philip Hertz.

Mark Campbell, Clifford Chance’s global head of finance says: “Clifford Chance already boasts leading finance and restructuring capabilities in Asia Pacific and I am confident that we will go from strength to strength under Mark’s leadership. We thank Huw for his strong leadership of the practice for over a decade and look forward to working with him on global energy and infrastructure projects.

“Our London restructuring practice is in excellent hands with David and Philip and I know they are looking forward to working together to build on the successes of the practice in order to meet the needs of the markets.”

Hyde adds: “I am greatly looking forward to returning to work in Asia Pacific alongside the finance partners in the region to further develop our market leading capabilities there. At the same time my role will entail a focus on driving our award-winning restructuring work in the region.”