Clifford Chance (CC) has opened the nominations process for its London managing partner elections, as current postholder David Bickerton's term draws to an end in December.

The partnership has been invited to nominate potential candidates, although the date for a vite has yet to be decided.

One partner at the firm predicted that Bickerton (pictured) would be unopposed if he decided to put himself in the running for a second term leading the firm's City operations.

Another partner said that, to their knowledge, there have not been any partners canvassing for the role.

One insider said: "I'd be surprised if anyone would bash heads over it, but then again London is such a big office that it's hard to tell if someone might be thinking of putting themselves in the running."

Bickerton's first four-year term as London managing partner began in 2009, when he fended off competition from former finance chief Mark Stewart and capital markets partner Stephen Roith to win the appointment. Both Stewart and Roith have since left the firm.

Last month, global litigation chief Jeremy Sandelson was re-elected to a second four-year term in the role following an uncontested vote.

The news comes as the firm gears up for a global managing partner elections, with global head of corporate Matthew Layton, Paris managing partner Yves Wehrli and real estate finance partner Andrew Carnegie in the running to replace David Childs in the role.

Hustings are set to begin imminently and the first round of voting is expected to kick off in mid to late November.

Childs' future is currently unclear, with some partners predicting he will retire from the firm once he hands over the reins.