Clifford Chance has found a replacement for Continental Europe managing partner and former leadership contender Yves Wehrli.

The firm has pegged former Italy managing partner Charles Adams to return to the European platform after spending two years in its New York office, where he worked at growing Clifford Chance’s Americas practice. He is still head of the firm’s Italy finance and capital markets group.

From 2007 until 2014, Adams was the office managing partner of Clifford Chance’s Italian practice, and was a Continental European representative on the firm’s management committee between 2013 and 2014.

Initially appointed for a four-year term, Adams stood down earlier than originally expected when the then-new managing partner Matthew Layton disbanded the management committee as part of his new strategy.

At the time of his initial election in 2013, Layton beat off competition from Wehrli and real estate finance partner Andrew Carnegie for the top job.

Wehrli, who had completed the maximum number of terms in his role, is expected to continue as Paris office managing partner after the change.

Adams said: “Nurturing our position in this strategically important region is a priority for the firm. That includes ensuring that we forge ever-stronger bonds with our colleagues in other regions, notably in the Americas and Asia Pacific.

“Europe’s future is intertwined with that of the wider global economy, and we are better placed than any other law firm to help clients capitalise successfully on the opportunities that brings.  It is an exciting time to take on this role and I look forward to working with our teams globally to reinforce our position as market-leaders.”