Clifford Chance (CC) is gearing up to elect a new head of London finance, with current post-holder Mark Stewart set to retire next month.

Stewart (pictured), who lost in a bid for CC's London managing partner role at the close of last year, has announced that he will retire from the magic circle firm at the end of next month (31 March).

His decision has pushed the search for a replacement forward by one month, as his four-year term was due to finish at the end of the current financial year.

It is understood that there are several potential candidates being lined up to take Stewart's place; however, CC declined to give any names while the nomination process is still ongoing.

Commenting on his decision to retire, Stewart said: "I have been a partner with CC for 20 years and it seemed like the right time to take a career break, take some time off and see what I want to do after that. It is likely that I will be retiring entirely because that is an option that I am lucky enough to have."

Stewart joined CC as an associate in 1986 and was promoted to the partnership in 1990. At the end of last year he stood against London capital markets head David Bickerton and capital markets partner Stephen Roith for the local managing partner role on a platform that would have seen him take on the role part-time.

He ultimately lost to Bickerton, who took up the post on 1 January. The London head position came up after previous post-holder, Jeremy Sandelson, was elected as global head of litigation in October.

Clifford Chance on the Legal Week Wiki