Hot on the heels of a defection en masse led by a group of departing partners, Lewis Brisbois is staring down another yet another issue: its founding partner and co-chairman is stepping down.
Robert “Bob” Lewis, 86, founded the firm in 1979 and was one of the longest-serving chairs of any Am Law 100 firm. Bob Smith, the firm’s remaining co-chairman, said Lewis is a “titan of the legal profession,” and that the firm looks forward to Lewis’s continued “wisdom and guidance” in his new role as chairman emeritus.
In the wake of Lewis’s decision to leave his position, Lewis Brisbois will be dissolving its executive committee and creating a new management model. The American Lawyer has the details:
Lewis Brisbois is creating an expanded management committee comprised of 13 members.
Elections will be held on May 9 for five new members, after which the expanded committee will elect a managing partner and other top managing or administrative partners as necessary, [a statement from Smith] said. …
“For some time now, we have held discussions about altering our management structure,” Smith said in the statement. “Rarely does there seem to be a good time to introduce meaningful change. Recent events, however, have created new opportunities for Lewis Brisbois to expand, grow, strengthen and change our management team.”
“Change is a positive,” Smith continued. “What won’t change is our steadfast focus on delivering outstanding counsel and results to our clients.”
Up to 140 lawyers are expected to leave the firm — which is currently ranked at No. 70 in the most recent Am Law 100 — to join Barber Ranen, a boutique employment firm that was recently opened by John Barber and Jeff Ranen, veterans of Lewis Brisbois who led its employment practices group and served as members of its management committee.
Smith doesn’t seem too troubled by the news, announcing in his statement, “We will miss our colleagues who have left, but we know we will continue to share clients with them, while we rebuild our employment capabilities in California.”
Lewis Brisbois Chairman Bob Lewis Steps Down [American Lawyer]
Earlier: Partners Lead Mass Defection From Biglaw Firm, With Up To 140 Lawyers Set To Join New Boutique
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.
