The emergence of three London corporate lawyers as favourites to succeed Juan Picon as DLA Piper senior partner has prompted concerns among some continental partners about the continued Anglo-centric direction of the firm.

City corporate trio Bob Bishop (pictured above), Andrew Darwin and Jon Hayes have been tipped by partners at the firm as the frontrunners for the senior partner role, with eight contenders set to be whittled down to three in the first stage of voting next week.