Clifford Chance (CC) has elected a new London real estate head with City partner Jonathan Solomon elected for a four-year term backdated to 1 May.

The news comes as the firm prepares to confirm the appointment of its new London corporate head, with Simon Tinkler put forward to the City corporate partners as the only option in a confirmatory vote due to close next week.

Solomon (pictured), who has been a partner at CC since 2000, specialises in real estate development, investment and joint ventures. He will take over the London role from Cliff McAuley who will retire at the end of the financial year.

McAuley heads both the global and London practices; CC will begin the election process for a new global real estate head in the autumn.

Meanwhile, Tinkler is set to replace David Pearson as London corporate head when the appointment is confirmed. Pearson, who did not stand for reelection, has held the position for two consecutive terms since first being elected in 2003.

Chinalco relationship partner Kathy Honeywood was also cited as a favoured partner during the sounding process, while other early names floated by CC partners also included Guy Norman and Jason Glover.

Tinkler, who already has an administrative role in the London corporate team as its human resources partner, joined CC in 1995 and made partner in 2000. He trained at Osborne Clarke and also worked in-house for British Aerospace.

His practice focuses on private equity, complex leveraged buyouts, investment banking advice, takeovers and corporate M&A.

The news comes after CC elected global litigation head Jeremy Sandelson as its new London litigation chief earlier this month, replacing Nick Munday.

CC's London finance head Mark Stewart also stepped down in March this year, with the firm opting to split the role between City acquisition finance partners Michael Bates and Robert Lee.

Clifford Chance on the Legal Week Wiki