DLA Phillips Fox has appointed partner David East as its new chairman. East replaces Martin Wiseman who has held the position since March 2009.

East is based in the firm's Sydney office and has been a partner of the firm since 2002, and a member of the board since July 2008. He has more than 25 years' experience as a finance and projects lawyer.

In addition, Canberra partner Caroline Atkins has been elected to the board. Aitkens joined the firm in 2002 and has 25 years' experience in commercial law, specialising in government procurement, strategy and policy implementation as well as intellectual property rights, technology law and legal risk and contract management.

The appointments were announced at the annual partners conference held in Melbourne last weekend.