Banking head Gideon Moore, Asia managing partner Marc Harvey and litigation head Michael Bennett remain in the running for Linklaters' managing partner role as the magic circle firm halves the number of contenders for the role.

The shortlist of three sees Western Europe managing partner Pieter Riemer, head of finance and projects Michael Kent and co-head of operational intelligence Tom Shropshire ruled out as the race moves towards its final stages.

Riemer and Shropshire were seen as outsiders for the job, but Silk Street veteran Kent was tipped as an early favourite.   

The six candidates are understood to have presented their manifestos to the partnership board early this week.

The firm hopes to have the new managing partner in place for its partner conference on 17 November.

The remaining candidates will be cut from the list until one remains, they will then be put to the firm's partnership for a confirmatory vote.

The winner will replace incumbent Simon Davies after he announced that he was stepping down from the role a year early to join Lloyds Bank as its chief people, legal and strategy officer in January 2016.

The senior partner role is also up for grabs, with corporate partner Charlie Jacobs thought to be the front runner.

Moore was re-appointed as banking head earlier this month for a second term.