Stephenson Harwood has handed litigation partner Roland Foord a second term on its partnership council, as the City firm gears up for elections for the senior partner role.

Foord, who joined Stephenson Harwood in 1985 and leads the firm's professional services and art law teams, was re-elected to the four-member partnership council last month (30 November) and will serve another three-year term. He joins incumbent senior partner Andrew Sutch – who also chairs the group – shipping disputes partner Stuart Beadnall and shipping finance partner Nigel Porter on the council.

The partnership council, which acts as a non-executive board, is responsible for the firm's governance and partnership matters. It also has supervisory responsibility over the firm's management, representing the firm's partnership through a structure that sees one member voted on each year on a rotational basis.

Foord's appointment comes as Stephenson Harwood prepares for management elections in the New Year. Sutch, who was voted into the post in April 2007, will see his three-year term as senior partner come to a close in April 2010. It is unclear whether Sutch will stand for a second term in office. However, the election process is due to kick off in February 2010.

News of the upcoming election comes as the firm has selected a new head of real estate to replace Richard Light. Light has stepped down after 11 years in the job and will be replaced by London real estate partner Marcel Haniff. Haniff will officially takeover on 1 January, with Light to return to a client-focused role.