Linklaters has announced the appointment of Zili Shao as its new Asia managing partner, effective 1 May.

Shao will take over the reins from Giles White - who has been snapped up by business group Jardine Matheson, one of Linklaters' longstanding clients in Asia, as its new general counsel.

Shao has been the firm's managing partner for Greater China since 2003 and headed its China practice between 1998 and 2003. He also established the firm's Shanghai and Beijing offices in 1998 and 2001 respectively.

He is a specialist in PRC-related M&A, corporate restructuring and direct investments.