Clifford Chance corporate rainmaker Guy Norman has made a bid for the global corporate chief spot as current postholder Matthew Layton prepares to take up the global managing partner role.

M&A partner Norman (pictured) is set to enter the race after sending an email to partners expressing his intention in recent weeks.

Partners have said a timetable for the election process has not been set out yet, but the soundings process is underway, with the firm expected to disclose a full list of candidates in coming weeks.

Norman has long been touted as a candidate for the job. Partners also initially speculated that London head of corporate Simon Tinkler may be planning to put himself in the running, but his intentions remain unclear. His term as London practice head comes to an end in the spring.

One partner said: "I think the role will need to have good regional overview, so someone with international management experience will stand in a good position."

Norman relocated to the firm's Dubai outpost in 2010 for three years after taking on a brief to develop the magic circle firm's Middle East corporate practice ahead of Dubai-based partner Simon Clinton's move to Singapore at the start of 2011.

Norman handled the firm's relationship with Barclays, having advised the bank on its $6bn auction of asset management business iShares in 2009 and on its £7bn financing from the Middle East the year before, and has held roles on large mandates including advising Kraft Foods on its £10.2bn Cadbury takeover and Babcock on its £1.1bn bid for VT Group.

Layton is stepping into the global managing partner role in May as David Childs retires at the end of his second and final four-year term in the position.