Clifford Chance (CC) is set to elect a new global head of litigation next week, with a contested election already underway.

Current London managing partner Jeremy Sandelson (pictured) and litigation partner Denis Brock are competing for the post, with the outcome expected to be confirmed next week.

Brock, who made partner at CC in 1995, has served as the firm's Asia litigation chief from 1997 to 2006.

Sandelson was elected to the role of London managing partner in 2005 after spending a term as UK head of litigation. He made partner in 1988.

The post of global litigation head is currently vacant after former chief Mark Kirsch stepped down when he left the magic circle firm for US giant Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

Kirsch exited CC in June along with fellow US litigation partner Joel Cohen and counsel Christopher Joralmen, who also joined Gibson Dunn.

At that time the firm was seeking to redefine the role of global litigation chief, while restructuring the shape of its disputes practice.

The election process, which began last week, is expected to close by the middle of next week after a partnership vote.

Commenting on his platform, Brock said: "Having previously been a practice leader, I am not unfamiliar to challenges. I want to invigorate the global collegiality of the firm and maximise the strength of local practices on a global scale. I want to co-ordinate and communicate to a point where I am serving and helping our litigators. We need to look forward with pride and confidence."

Clifford Chance on the Legal Week Wiki