Greenberg Traurig has made a raft of management level and operational changes, including appointing London chair Paul Maher as global vice-chair.
Maher, global practice chair Patricia Menéndez-Cambó, and regional operations chair Richard Edlin have all been appointed vice-chairs of the firm to “assist with the firm’s strategic direction as well as high-level selling and recruiting”.
The move follows Brian Duffy’s appointment to CEO in January, when Richard Rosenbaum stood down to become executive chairman of the firm.
Rosenbaum retained certain executive roles, including shareholder compensation, firm strategy, certain US, and all non-US operations.
Clik here to view.
Speaking of the new vice-chair trio, Rosenbaum said: “They are each proven strategic thinkers, bringing a diverse set of experiences and perspectives to the roles across the US and the globe.”
As part of the new appointments, the firm has decided to drop the ‘Maher’ from its name in the UK.
Maher, who has also retained his role as London chair, told The Lawyer that this change will strengthen the firm’s global brand.
“It’s been great to establish ourselves in the market, but when you start to do international pitches you have to spend time explaining why you have different brands,” he said. “It was always intended to be a transitional thing.”
Maher said he expects that his focus will now be “on strategic development of clients, some practices and areas and development of offices”. Although there has been no official decision, he expects that new vice-chairs will deal with matters that are “practice-adjacent” for the time being.
“I’m a believer in measurable deliverables, winning clients and increasing profitability,” he said.
Maher is likely to continue to work with Rosenbaum, who leads the “careful positioning of the firm as a player in its core areas in key jurisdictions”, according to a statement. He views Europe as particularly fertile ground for expansion in the current environment.
Last year, Greenberg Traurig added 12 new lawyers to its Warsaw office through hires from Allen & Overy (A&O) and Norton Rose Fulbright, as part of a strategy to expand its real estate presence in Central Europe.
Maher is chair of the global corporate and securities practice, co-chair of the global M&A group and has considerable experience in cross-border public and private M&A, advising a wide range of domestic and international clients.
Menéndez-Cambó is currently the chair of the global practice, chair of the global corporate and securities practice, co-chair of the global energy and infrastructure practice, and is a member of the firm’s executive committee. Prior to taking over the leadership of the firm’s global practice group, she headed the firm’s Latin American practice.
Edlin is the chair of the litigation practice in New York and a member of the firm’s executive committee. He is a trial lawyer with broad experience in both trial and appellate courts including the US supreme court and the Delaware Supreme Court.
Earlier this year, Greenberg Traurig and Berwin Leighton Paisner called off merger talks after failing to find enough common ground for a Transatlantic tie-up.
The post Greenberg Traurig elevates London chair to global job but drops ‘Maher’ from UK name appeared first on The Lawyer | Legal News and Jobs | Advancing the business of law.