The field of contenders to succeed Malcolm Sweeting as Clifford Chance (CC) senior partner has been narrowed to three, after two candidates were eliminated from the process.

Former capital markets head David Dunnigan and insurance head Katherine Coates have both dropped out of the running following the first round of voting, which closed last Monday (5 November).

The remaining three candidates are former London managing partner David Bickerton, Paris managing partner Yves Wehrli, and Amsterdam managing partner Jeroen Ouwehand.

None of the original five contenders secured the necessary 50% of the votes in the first round to take the role automatically, as Sweeting did when he was first elected to the post in 2010.

CC's partners are now voting again on the remaining trio, with the next round closing today (12 November) and a final decision expected to be reached this week.

One source at the firm said that Ouwehand – seen by many as an outsider in the race – had received surprising levels of support from CC's London partners and had put forward an impressive case for the importance of technology at the firm.

The elimination of Coates, meanwhile, means the wait for a first-ever female managing or senior partner at the firm continues.

The new senior partner will work in tandem with managing partner Matthew Layton, who took up a second four-year term on 1 May this year, following an uncontested election.

The candidates' manifestos were sent out to partners during October, after which a series of election hustings were held across CC's office network, with themes touched on including the growing importance of technology for the firm.