Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Sandy Shandro has taken over from Peter Bloxham as head of the restructuring and insolvency group.

Shandro plans to increase the profile of the magic circle firm’s restructuring and insolvency group in North America and explained: “Economic indicators and the relegation to junk status of bonds issued by General Motors and Ford point to an increase in insolvency work there.”

Shandro has been chairman of the Insolvency Committee of the City of London Law Society for the past two years and co-chaired the highly regarded INSOL congress in Sydney this year.

Meanwhile Bloxham who has headed the group since its inception six years ago will continue in the restructuring and insolvency group, working alongside Neil Golding and his insurance solutions team.