SJ Berwin has elected Stephen Kon as its new senior partner to succeed Jonathan Blake as of 1 May.

Kon (pictured), who currently heads the firm's EU and competition group, is a longstanding member of the firm's strategic management team, and has been at the firm since 1982.

He stood against just one other contender for the role, City litigation partner Hilton Mervis, who had also previously stood unsuccessfully for the managing partner role in 2010.

Kon had been identified as the most likely successor to Blake, given the key role he has played as co-ordinator of the firm's international strategy.

However, he resigned from the firm last year with the intention of joining Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy's London office, but was persuaded by Blake to stay on at the firm.

Kon also ran for the senior partner post against Blake in 2005. The contested election that year, which also included competition partner Ralph Cohen, saw the firm settle on a 'joint-ticket' management set-up which saw Blake voted in as senior partner, succeeding David Harrel, while Cohen remained as managing partner with an enhanced strategic brief.

Blake was most recently re-elected for a three-year term in 2008 in an uncontested vote, with the term formally starting in 2009.

Kon said: "I am honoured to have been elected by my fellow partners. I am very proud of this firm and everything we have achieved over the last 30 years."

Managing partner Rob Day added: "Stephen is a man of great experience, authority, judgement and integrity. I am really looking forward to working closely with him to continue to develop this great business."

SJ Berwin does not have a cap on the number of terms its senior partner can serve, but Blake opted not to run for a third term.