Charlton, is a finance and projects lawyer in the UK and Asia with experience in infrastructure, transactional and banking fields.

He lead the firm’s international finance and projects group and previously worked in Asia while at Clifford Chance and Freshfields.

Chalton is replacing Alastair Da Costa who was head of DLA Piper's Asia for five years, then Asia Pacific, business. Da Costa is returning to the UK to do a Masters degree at the London School of Economics, while remaining as a consultant for the firm.

In his new role, Chalton will work with senior leadership in the region to drive DLA Piper's Asia Pacific strategy to be recognised as the leading global business law firm in the Asia Pacific region.

Charlton said he’s excited to lead the Asia Pacific business.

“The experience I have in finance and projects, and of spending many enjoyable years living and working in the region, has prepared me well to take on this role.”

Chalton will be based in Hong Kong and plans to split his time between DLA Piper in Australia and Asia and regularly visit the firm's 11 offices in the region: Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.