Baker & McKenzie chairman Eduardo Leite has signalled his intention to remain in the role beyond the end of his term later this year.

Speaking to Legal Week, the Brazilian native confirmed he was open to extending his leadership at the world's largest law firm by lawyer headcount, calling the job "amazing". His term is set to end in October this year.

"Certainly, if my partners wanted me to continue as their chairman, I would be happy to do so," said Leite, who was appointed to a four year term in 2010.

Leite's predecessor, global strategic initiatives head John Conroy, served two terms between 2004 and 2010. This year's election, which is set to go ahead later in the summer, is currently in the nominations stage.

It is not yet known if Leite's current term will be extended, as has happened with the role in the past, or if he will be re-elected to another four-year stint.

"I still enjoy the role a lot. You have to be able to cope with travelling two thirds of the year but if you can master that then it's an amazing job," said Leite, who previously headed Bakers' four Brazilian offices between 2003 and 2010.

"The people I meet, the clients I talk to, and the places I go give me a perspective on the world that is second to none. That is really valuable for our business and, I hope, for our clients."

Last year the firm posted record global revenues of $2.42bn (£1.56bn), Leite said the success was a continuation of initiatives started by former Bakers' chairman Christine Lagarde, currently managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

"The modern era of Baker & McKenzie began with Christine in 1999. What we are doing today- the focus on our clients, making sure we see everything from the client perspective, investing in training our people and professionalising our staff- all started with her. John [Conroy] and I have been building on that."

However, Leite said the period had presented challenges borne by "dramatic" changes in the internationalisation of the profession, and the battle among large international firms for market share.

"At the global level, the legal market is not growing and that is unlikely to change soon," he said. "Firms are only going to achieve growth by taking market share, which they will do by being more responsive to their clients and developing their people faster than their competitors.

"That's the challenge for every global firm – even when you have 10,000 people as we do."

Speaking to Legal Week from the firm's EMEA partner conference in Dubai this month, Leite added: "Attending these conferences and seeing the evolution and the professionalisation of the firm coming together is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job."

Last September, Leite was selected by the Obama administration to serve a three-year term on the US-Brazil CEO Forum, becoming the first member of a law firm to be appointed to the trade-focused group.

His appointment to Bakers' lead role in 2010 was the first time the firm had a chairman from the Latin America region, and the first time a Latin American had served as chairman of any global law firm.