Slaughter and May partner Antoine-Audoin Maggiar has emerged as the only international candidate standing in this year's Paris Bar elections – leading to concerns that international influence over the powerful body is waning.

Maggiar, a Slaughters partner since 1987, was the only international representative from 25 candidates to register before the deadline. Fourteen seats on the 42-strong body are available, with voting scheduled for 22 and 23 November.

Concerns about the strength of international representation on the council have been fuelled by the departure of pioneering duo Alain de Foucaud (LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae) and Yves de Mahenge (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer).

Both lawyers have been rallying for more candidates to step foward following their breakthrough in 2002, when they became the first international council members for many years.

Maggiar told Legal Week: "I decided to run because some of the other international members came to the end of their terms. Both Yves and Alain did a fantastic job and have been very much appreciated… It is extremely important that international firms are represented on the council as the future of the Paris legal market is becoming more and more international."

Momentum had been growing with four international partners standing last year, when Clifford Chance's Claude Lazarus and Willkie Farr & Gallagher's Dominique Mondoloni were elected. They joined Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's Jean-Michel Tron, who was elected in 2003, on the council.

But with just one international candidate emerging this year, senior lawyers are claiming interest in the council is flagging.

One partner close to the council said: "[Alain and Yves] have been trying hard to recruit people but it takes a lot of energy. Many international lawyers are losing interest because of the time and effort needed to get elected, hold a council mandate and continue full-time practise."