The candidates hail from across the firm's three main jurisdictions.

Three Baker McKenzie partners are fighting it out to become global chair at the firm, with the successful candidate set to be in place within weeks.

The successful trio have made it through to the final stage of the process, with six partners originally in the running, according to people close to the process.

The final group, which the global firm's partnership will vote on before the firm's annual partner conference in October, draws from the firm's three main business lines: North America, Asia-Pac and its newly financially integrated EMEA group, EMEA+.

EMEA+ head Fiona Carlin, Hong Kong managing partner Milton Cheng and North America CEO Colin Murray are now through to the final stage, following interviews with a committee tasked with whittling down the contenders, and husting meetings with partners.

The unsuccessful candidates were current acting chair and head of Latin America Jamie Trujillo, London management committee member Samantha Mobley, and Sydney-based technology, media and telecommunications industry and practice group global chair Anne-Marie Allgrove.

Carlin is described as a "strong candidate" by one former partner, who also praised her leadership style.

The Brussels-based partner previously led the firm's global antritrust law practice and last year was appointed chief executive of the firm's new financially integrated EMEA structure, EMEA+.

A former Bakers partner said she was seen as "doing a good job" when she previously ran the antitrust group, and praised her leadership as "low key".

Disputes partner Murray joined the firm in 2000 and was appointed CEO of the North American region in 2017. In that role, he is responsible for the firm's business across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

M&A partner and Hong Kong managing partner Cheng joined Bakers in 1990 as a trainee, and has had experience across the firm's London, Singapore and Hong Kong offices.

He was made partner in 1999 and two years ago was appointed the chief executive of Baker McKenzie's Asia-Pacific offices.

One current partner at the firm added: "We're pretty fortunate to have a big firm that can produce stellar candidates. We've got to keep going and take forward all the good things Paul did in his time – everything was heading in the right direction under his stewardship."

Trujilo did not make it through to the final three despite the fact he has held the acting chair role since former chair Paul Rawlinson stepped down last October. Rawlinson stepped down following health issues caused by exhaustion and passed away in April this year.

A spokesperson for the firm said in a statement the firm would not comment on internal matters.