Clifford Chance (CC) partner Simon Tinkler will step down as the firm's London head of corporate at the end of his first term later this summer.

Tinkler's replacement is expected to take up the reins in August. The soundings process for candidates will begin within the next two months, though it is thought that no one has yet made a pitch for the job.

CC global head of corporate Guy Norman said: "Simon did a great job steering us through difficult markets but his plan is to go back to full-time fee-earning. Our private equity practice is booming and his return will build on its strengths."

While Tinkler's four-year term technically ended last month, Norman said there would be a gap before the appointment in light of the practice's recent leadership changes.

Norman took over as global corporate head from previous postholder Matthew Layton in February in an uncontested election after Layton was elected as the firm's global managing partner last November. Both Layton and Norman took up their respective new roles earlier this month (1 May).

Tinkler (pictured) said: "I am very much looking forward to now being back at the coal face and working with our private equity partners to take our practice to the next level.

"It is also great to see Guy bringing his experience from London and the Middle East to the global role, and I will of course continue to be closely involved in assisting him and the new head of London corporate in due course."

The nominations committee will take soundings from partners before presenting a final list of candidates for the role.

The news comes as the firm has also named Munich finance partner Barbara Mayer-Trautmann as the newest member of its partnership council.

She replaces Robin Abraham, who stepped down from his position after he was appointed as the new regional managing partner for CC's Middle East operations.

Mayer-Trautmann will serve alongside senior partner and council chair Malcolm Sweeting, London financial institutions head Katherine Coates, City litigator Simon Davis, Italy head of banking and restructuring Giuseppe de Palma, Washington finance partner Kate McCarthy and Beijing M&A partner Tim Wang.

The council oversees the management committee's performance, maintains the firm's reputation and organises votes and elections as required under the partnership agreement.

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