Swiss investment firm KKCG has named David Koláček as its group chief legal officer, a newly created role within the company.

Koláček joins from Clifford Chance where he was a partner and co-head of its corporate practice in Prague.

At KKCG, Koláček will oversee the existing legal team, taking responsibility for all legal matters for the group and the businesses it owns, streamlining its legal and regulatory function across the geographies and industries where it is active. He will join the company on 28 April.

Lucerne, Switzerland-based KKCG owns a range of companies in the lotteries and entertainment, energy, technology and real estate sectors, including multi-national lottery operator Allwyn, energy business MND Group and IT services company Aricoma, among others. The group has more than €10bn of assets under management.

Czech billionaire Karel Komárek, KKCG founder and chair, said: “I have worked with David for many years; he understands our business well and has actively supported our international development over recent years. With our ambitious plans for continued growth across markets, David will be a valuable addition to our senior leadership team.”

Koláček – an M&A and private equity specialist – arrives after 17 years at Clifford Chance, having previously spent 15 years at White & Case, the last three of them as a partner. The CLO role at KKCG is his first in-house position.

While at Clifford Chance, Koláček advised KKCG business Allywn on its acqusition of a majority stake in online gambling website Novibet and on Allywn’s partnerships with McLaren Racing and Formula 1. He also advised on KKCG’s acquisition of pharma tech business Avenga.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a fast-growing and entrepreneurial business that is always looking for new ways to create sustainable value across the companies it owns.”

Koláček is not the first Clifford Chance alumni to join KKCG. Czech lawyer Tomáš Porupka joined the company in 2011 as general counsel, also having worked in the Magic Circle firm’s Prague office.

Last month, US investment firm TPG hired Debevoise & Plimpton partner Jennifer Chu as CLO, replacing GC Bradford Berenson. And in February, US financial services firm Ascencus hired senior WilmerHale counsel Phillip Gillespie as CLO.