Osborne Clarke (OC) has appointed head of business transactions Ray Berg as its new UK managing partner, ending chief executive Simon Beswick's dual leadership role.

Berg (pictured), who had been widely tipped to succeed Beswick as UK managing partner, was voted into the role by the UK partnership following a contested election. He will take up a four-year term in his new role at the start of January next year.

The vote took place yesterday afternoon (4 November), and included a Q&A session with the candidates. The firm declined to disclose which other partners were also in the running.

Beswick, whose three-year term as CEO ends in June 2015, has held the UK managing partner role for 12 years.

Berg, who is also head of M&A and corporate finance, has headed up OC's business transactions group since January 2013.

A replacement to head the business transactions group – one of four roles on OC's board – is expected to be appointed by January 2015. The M&A leadership role, which according to the firm does not involve formal management duties, will depend on the outcome of this.

Berg, who joined as partner in 2001 from Allen & Overy, told Legal Week that he intends to continue engaging with clients as much as possible and maintain key client relationships.

"There may be a slight difference in style [to Beswick's] but otherwise I plan to continue Simon's focus on sectors and internationalisation," he said. "I am lucky to be taking up the role in light of Simon's legacy over the past 12 years – when it comes to continuity it couldn't be easier."

OC usually has a two-term cap on its terms for managing partners but Beswick was allowed to continue for a further three years to oversee strategy outlined midway through his second term.

Berg will lead the firm's UK operations alongside senior partner Andrew Saul, whose role took effect at the start of this year.