Clifford Chance has appointed funds and investment partner Kai-Niklas Schneider to its global leadership group in a newly created role to lead the magic circle firm’s financial investors strategy.

The move comes as financial investors such as private equity firms, asset managers and sovereign wealth funds account for a greater share of the firm’s revenue, rising to a third this year from roughly a quarter back in 2015.

Matthew Layton, global managing partner at Clifford Chance, said: “We are hugely proud of our longstanding relationships with many of the leaders in the global financial investor community, and of our track record helping them to achieve their ambitious goals… This new global leadership role underpins our commitment to ensure we remain best-placed to help the preeminent investors now and in the future as the opportunities and challenges before them grow in scale and complexity.”

Singapore-based Schneider has been at Clifford Chance since 2013, becoming managing partner of the Singapore office three years later. He is also head of the funds and investment management group in Singapore, and sports more than two decades of experience advising financial investors, particularly in the private funds space. He was previously a partner at Latham & Watkins in Dubai.

Schneider said: “Working with financial investors has been at the heart of my professional career, and I cannot wait to combine my passion for this sector with this new global role. Working together with partners across all our offices and practice areas, we will ensure we remain second-to-none in the understanding, advice and execution we offer as a trusted adviser to our financial investor clients.”

Prior to creating the new role for the executive leadership group, the firm’s strategic decision body was advised on financial investor issues by London-based capital markets lawyer and public sector practice head David Bickerton.

Layton said: “David has ensured that our insights and capabilities have come together across borders, allowing us to deliver outstanding support on many of the most critical and complex matters for these clients. We couldn't have achieved what we have without his tireless drive and leadership.”

In July, Clifford Chance has posted strong financial results for 2020, with revenue rising 6% to £1.8bn and profit per equity partner up 5% to £1.69m – outpacing rivals such as Allen & Overy and Linklaters.