By Casey Sullivan

Feb 22 (Reuters) - In an effort to strengthen its foothold in the United States, the British law firm Allen & Overy has elevated the head of its capital markets group in London to become U.S. managing partner, a firm spokesman said on Friday.

David Krischer assumed the position late last week and will begin immediately splitting his time between London, New York and Washington, the spokesman said.

Krischer is expected to hold the position at the Magic Circle firm for a four-year term.

He replaces Kevin O'Shea, who becomes U.S. senior partner, a new position that focuses more on the practice of law than administrative duties.

Krischer will focus on the firm's recruiting efforts and on generally managing partners.

Allen & Overy, which has 2,700 lawyers in 42 offices worldwide, first opened its doors in the United States more than 25 years ago with a New York outpost, and added a Washington office in 2011.

The firm focuses on a range of practices, including corporate, litigation, energy and regulatory. It has both hired and lost lawyers in New York recently.

"Partners come and go all the time as a part of the normal course of business," the spokesman said of the turnover.

(Corrects an earlier version which misstated the reason for the leadership change.)

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