Clifford Chance (CC) has elected a new global real estate head with the firm's Spanish practice chief taking on the firmwide remit.

Alfonso Benavides will take on the role from 1 September, suceeding Cliff McAuley, who is retiring from the firm. McAuley has led the real estate practice group for more than seven years after first being appointed in January 2003.

Benavides, who has been a member of CC's partner selection group since 2007, will take on the role for a four-year term. He has been a partner at CC since 1999 and specialises in commercial property, property finance and construction.

Benavides will also join CC's management committee at the start of September, and will step down from the partner selection group at the same time.

CC managing partner David Childs commented: "Alfonso is well respected by colleagues and clients alike and already has a strong global understanding of the firm through his client work and involvement with the partner selection group. I am confident he will bring drive, energy and enthusiasm to his leadership of the practice."

Benavides said: "This is an exciting challenge at an important time for the practice. We are now seeing real estate values stabilising in many markets, creating interesting opportunities for our clients, acting as investors and as finance providers.

"There is no doubt that real estate remains an important asset class and – in one form or another – will soon be high on many agendas again."

The news follows the appointment of City partner Jonathan Solomon as London real estate head as of 1 May, which came in anticipation of McAuley's retirement. McAuley had previously headed up the practice both in London and globally.

Clifford Chance on the Legal Week Wiki