Osborne Clarke's (OC)  head of employment David Cubitt has been appointed as the new manager of the firm's London office.

Cubitt replaces Andrew Saul, who is set to take over as the firm's new senior partner in January.

The contested vote for the top London job closed last Friday (20 December). The firm confirmed Cubitt had run against one other candidate but did not disclose a name.

Cubitt, who joined Osborne Clarke in 2000, has headed up the firm's employment practice for four years. He will take a seat on the partnership council, which will be chaired by Saul.

The firm will review whether Cubitt is able to retain his role as employment chief when he takes up the London role at the start of next year.

Saul, who replaces Tim Birt as senior partner, had been in the City leadership role for almost two years, having first been in January 2012.

The news comes as the firm sets its sights on an office launch in Amsterdam next spring. Last month firmwide managing partner Simon Beswick said OC was looking to staff the base with a team of five to seven partners on the ground.

OC last month reported a 12% rise in revenue for the first half of 2013-14 after it grew to £60.7m, up from the £53.4m recorded at the 2012-13 half-year mark. The firm's offices in London, Bristol and Reading brought in revenue of £39.1m, 8% up on the equivalent point last year.