Three partner pairings are set to go head to head for the top management jobs at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer after candidates were officially confirmed last week.

The first pair, who have long been touted as potential successors to senior partner Will Lawes and managing partner David Aitman, will consist of corporate partner Edward Braham (pictured), who is running for senior partner, and former disputes head Christopher Pugh, who is going for managing partner.

They will face a second duo of corporate partner Simon Marchant, who is standing for senior partner, with Germany and Austria regional managing partner Klaus-Stefan Hohenstatt looking to take the managing partner role.

The final ticket is understood to be a European partner duo from outside the UK.

The pairings undertook hustings at the firm's partner conference in Paris last week, requiring at least 5% of the partnership's vote to officially stand.

Each of the pairs received the minimum level of support, and will be put to a full partnership vote starting around 22 June.

Under Freshfields' constitution, the final management position of executive partner – currently held by Stephan Eilers – will be decided by whoever becomes senior partner.

The new management will begin their handover in October ahead of Lawes' and Aitman's departures at the end of the year.