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 took on the role from 1 September, succeeding 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 covers 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 (pictured) 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."

Benavides said: "This is an exciting challenge at an important time for the practice. We are 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 from 1 May, which came in anticipation of McAuley's retirement. McAuley had previously headed up the practice both in London and globally.