Clifford Chance (CC) has re-elected global real estate chief Cliff McAuley for another term.

McAuley, who has been a partner with the firm for 14 years, was first voted into the role in 2003. The election was uncontested, with the new term beginning on 1 January.

The news comes in the wake of a number of senior appointments at the magic circle firm, including the recent re-election of global tax, pensions and employment chief David Harkness.

Harkness was re-elected earlier this week (12 October) after an uncontested vote.

The firm is currently nominating candidates to fill the role of London and Middle East managing partner after Jeremy Sandelson was chosen to run the firm's global litigation practice.

London finance chief Mark Stewart has emerged as an early contender for the post, which is also being targeted by capital markets partner David Bickerton.

Stewart, who has been a partnerat CC for almost two decades, is in the running for the position after being put forward for nomination, while Bickerton has been a partner since 1997.

CC named Sandelson as its new global litigation chief on 7 October after a hotly-contested election, seeing off the challenge of litigation partner Denis Brock.

Sandelson has held the role of London managing partner since 2005 after spending a term as UK head of litigation.

CC is expected to decide on a new London regional managing partner by next month, while the election process for global managing partner has yet to kick off.

McAuley said: "I am proud to be part of a real estate practice which enjoys such a terrific reputation. This has been a difficult year for the property industry but we look forward to working with our clients to make the most of the opportunities as activity levels across the market pick up again."