Three Eversheds Sutherland partners have put themselves forward for the role of UK chairperson in the race to succeed incumbent Paul Smith.

It is understood that joint head of energy and infrastructure Rob Pitcher, head of financial services Pamela Thompson and Manchester senior partner and head of commercial disputes Michael Clavell-Bate have put themselves forward for the role.

The election process will begin soon, with the successful candidate taking on a four-year term starting on 1 May 2018.

Environmental partner Smith was elected to the role of chairman in December 2013 and has been with the firm since 1984. He began his tenure as chairman effective from 1 May 2014 with his achievements at firm including leading the relationship with DuPont for over 10 years.

Smith has chosen not to run for the position again.

At the time, Smith said: “I am honoured to have been selected as Eversheds chairman and am very much looking forward to taking up the role next year and working with the executive team to ensure that our strategy is implemented and playing my part in making Eversheds even more of a worldwide success in the future.”

The role of chairman concerns the LLP side of the firm which includes the UK, France, Germany, the Middle East and a handful of its Asia Pac offices.

The international direction of Eversheds Sutherland is led by co-CEOs Mark Wasserman and Lee Ranson, who replaced Bryan Hughes as legacy Eversheds CEO last year, with support from international managing partner Ian Gray.

Gray was the first partner appointed to the role in 2015 after leading the litigation team from 2007 to 2015, and was replaced by Paul Worth.

Eversheds Sutherland declined to comment.