Reed Smith's global managing partner Alexander "Sandy" Thomas is facing a contested election after just seven months in the role.

Sources within the firm have told Legal Week that John Martini, vice chair of Reed Smith's global business and finance department, has announced his intention to stand against Thomas (pictured) in elections set for June.

The prospect of a contested election has surprised some at the 1,800-lawyer firm, coming less than a year after a major change in leadership.

Martini, a Philadelphia-based employment partner, has held a number of senior management positions at Reed Smith, including chair of the firm's global executive compensation and employee benefits practice. Until 2012, he also headed the firm's tax, benefits and wealth planning group.

His intention to stand against Thomas marks the first contested managing partner election at Reed Smith since 2009, when another Philadelphia employment partner – John DiNome – ran against Gregory Jordan.

Jordan departed Reed Smith to take up the post of general counsel at PNC bank last October, in the midst of his fifth term in the role. He was last re-elected in 2012, after standing unopposed.

"Opinion is split," commented one Reed Smith partner, who recently attended the firm's partner's conference in Houston. "Sandy is well-admired and has done a great job since stepping in for Greg, so I don't think everyone anticipated this."

A firm spokesperson told Legal Week: "This election is part of an orderly process designed by our executive committee based on Reed Smith core values, culture, tradition and best practices in governance.

"We look forward to moving ahead as a unified global partnership no matter which of the excellent candidates is selected as global managing partner."

In a separate development, City-based structured finance head Tamara Box was recently appointed to the global board, alongside fellow London partner Kyri Evagora.

Box, who only joined Reed Smith from Berwin Leighton Paisner in 2012, has also recently been appointed as global co-chair of the firm's financial industry group, working alongside Pittsburgh-based Perry Napolitano.

Elsewhere, London partner Robin Jeffcott was recently made European vice chair for the litigation department, supporting global litigation chair Jack Nelson in running the 965-strong group of lawyers in the department.