Herbert Smith's managing partner David Willis is set to continue in his term for another two years after standing unopposed.

Willis' current term as managing partner comes to an end in April 2011 and he will now continue in the role until 2013 after no other candidates put themselves forward for election. The deadline for standing was yesterday (27 September).

A formal announcement on his re-appointment will be confirmed next month after it is endorsed through a partnership vote, of which Willis will need 50% support.

Willis became managing partner in 2008 for a two year period but saw his term extended for an extra year in 2009 in a bid to avoid holding two elections at the same time after Jonathan Scott took over from David Gold as senior partner this year.

Willis' appointment came at the end of a structural review carried out by the partnership council and the firm's executive council, which began when David Gold started his term as senior partner in 2005. The top 10 London law firm had not had a managing partner since the mid-1990s.

As managing partner Willis takes responsibility for operational management and strategic implementation issues. He also chairs the firm's executive committee.

Willis, a corporate lawyer, has been at Herbert Smith since 1981 and became a partner in 1989. His practice focuses on M&A and financial services regulation. He headed up the firm's Asian operations between 1997 and 2001.