Clifford Chance (CC) has voted in two partners to replace retiring London finance head Mark Stewart.

The firm opted to split the role between City acquisition finance partners Michael Bates and Robert Lee after a consultation revealed strong support for both of the partners to take on the role.

The pair will take on the role as of 1 April for a four-year term. CC said splitting the role would leave both partners more time for fee earning alongside their management responsibilities.

Global finance head Mark Campbell said: "They are both very well-respected, are responsible for significant client relationships and are part of the new generation of London finance partners. Our sounding process showed that both were heavily supported."

Bates is CC's client relationship partner for HSBC while Lee is the relationship partner for Royal Bank of Scotland.

As previously reported by Legal Week, Stewart will retire from the firm later this week (31 March) after spending 20 years with the firm. His decision pushed the search for a replacement as London finance chief forward by one month, as his four-year term was due to finish at the end of the current financial year.

Stewart stood unsuccessfully against London capital markets head David Bickerton and capital markets partner Stephen Roith for the London managing partner role but ultimately lost to Bickerton.

CC's London finance practice has around 270 lawyers, including 58 partners.

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