Clifford Chance votes in Bickerton as new London managing partner

Clifford Chance (CC) has handed David Bickerton the role of London managing partner after a contested election.

Bickerton will officially start the new post on 1 January 2010, replacing Jeremy Sandelson, who stepped down to take on the role of global litigation head last month.

The election saw both finance chief Mark Stewart and capital markets partner Stephen Roith also compete for the post.

Partners in the firm's London, European and Middle Eastern offices had until 5pm Friday (6 November) to vote, with the decision announced later that evening.

Bickerton joined the firm's partnership in 1997 and was elected to lead the London capital markets practice in 2007. He will hold the London managing partner role until 2014.

Commenting on his win, Bickerton said: "We have a dynamic and successful London and Middle East region with many talented people and an enviable list of clients and mandates. I look forward to working with everyone to build on our success in London and the Middle East, a region that is essential to the future of our firm."

The election is part of a raft of management changes at CC, with real estate chief Cliff McAuley and tax chief David Harkness both recently re-elected to their posts in uncontested votes.

The global managing partner role is the next position up for grabs, with current managing partner David Childs already hinting that he will stand for a second term in office.

Clifford Chance on the Legal Week Wiki