Hogan Lovells is set to vote on a new London representative for its board, following the appointment of real estate litigator and board member Nicholas Cheffings as the firm's first-ever sole chairman.

In an internal memo to partners, the firm has put forward real estate partner Gill McGreevy, retail banking head Emily Reid, insolvency partner Joe Bannister and litigator Jeremy Cole as potential candidates for the role.

The decision will go to a partnership vote at the end of this month, with the new London representative to take over from Cheffings in the new financial year (1 May).

Cheffings will take up his new role at the same time, replacing outgoing co-chairs Claudette Christian and John Young. Young is set to retire when his term ends on 30 April, while Christian will relocate to South America to oversee the firm's planned launch in Rio de Janeiro.

Cheffings was confirmed as sole chair in February after seeing off competition from litigation, arbitration and employment chief Patrick Sherrington and legacy Hogan corporate partner Bill Curtin, who manages the firm's Ford relationship.

Separately, the firm has appointed corporate partner Frances Le Grys as its new international general counsel following the announcement that longstanding GC Michael Seymour is set to retire towards the end of this calendar year.

The handover will see a period of transition throughout the summer, with Le Grys continuing her client work alongside her new responsibilities, which include handling compliance and legal matters for all of Hogan Lovells' offices outside of the US.