London corporate duo cited as potential candidates to lead one of the top M&A teams in global law

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is looking for a new global head of corporate, with current post-holder Andreas Fabritius set to stand down after four years at the helm.

Frankfurt-based Fabritius, who has been a partner at Freshfields since 1991, was appointed as sole head of the practice in 2006 after his co-leader, London partner Gavin Darlington, stepped down in late 2005.

Freshfields is still consulting with partners about finding a successor for Fabritius, with the firm expected to make a decision by the end of next month.

Partners within the firm suggest that candidates for the top job could include head of corporate in Germany and Central and Eastern Europe, Marius Berenbrok, and London corporate head Mark Rawlinson. Private equity head Ed Braham is also being touted by some as a potential contender.

Both Rawlinson and Berenbrok have only been in their respective positions for a relatively short time, with Rawlinson replacing Tim Jones in the London role in April 2008 and Berenbrok appointed in 2007.

Until 2005 Freshfields operated a dual head system that saw one partner from Germany and another from London jointly leading all of its main practice areas – a legacy of the 2000 merger with legacy firm Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Loeber. London and Germany remain the firm's main corporate hubs.

A Freshfields partner told Legal Week: "The London and German practices to a large extent run themselves so it is a question of getting the international practice more integrated."

Earlier this year Freshfields appointed a new Asia managing partner with London corporate partner Simon Marchant taking up the post. The firm has been without a managing partner in the region since Perry Noble stepped down in 2006.