Clifford Chance (CC) M&A partner Guy Norman is on the brink of becoming the firm's new global corporate head as it emerged no other candidates put themselves forward for the job.

Norman (pictured) is set to be confirmed in the role next week, following an uncontested election. He will replace current corporate chief Matthew Layton, who will step into the global managing partner position at the start of May.

Norman, who has long been touted for a leadership role, sent an email to partners late last year expressing his intention to stand.

The corporate practice took a blow earlier this week with the departure of private equity partner Kem Ihenacho to Latham & Watkins. 

Ihenacho follows in the footsteps of former CC private equity chief David Walker and fellow private equity partner Tom Evans, who both joined Latham last year.

Norman relocated to the CC's Dubai office in 2010 with a brief to build the magic circle firm's Middle East corporate practice ahead of Dubai-based partner Simon Clinton's relocation to Singapore at the start of 2011. He returned to London last year.

Norman handled the firm's relationship with Barclays, having advised the bank on deals including its $6bn auction of asset management business iShares in 2009. Other CV highlights include representing Kraft Foods on its £10.2bn Cadbury takeover and Babcock on its £1.1bn bid for VT Group.

Layton's new role as global managing partner will come into effect in May as David Childs retires at the end of his second and final four-year term in the position.