Clifford Chance (CC) capital markets partner Stephen Roith has joined the race to become the firm's new London managing partner, becoming the third name put forward for the coveted role.

Roith was nominated last week for the position and joins finance chief Mark Stewart and capital markets chief David Bickerton in the hotly-contested election.

The position became vacant after current incumbent Jeremy Sandelson was voted in as the firm's new global litigation chief on 7 October.

Partners in London and the Middle East will be able to start voting on the position in two weeks once the nomination period closes, with the election expected to be decided by mid-November.

CC is currently undergoing a series of elections, with the firm's tax and real estate departments both voting in their leaders for a second term.

David Harkness was elected once more to lead the tax practice two weeks ago, while real estate head Cliff McAuley was voted in for a second term as practice chief last week.

CC's global partnership is also preparing to decide on the firm's global managing partner post, with elections expected to take place at the beginning of next year.