Maher overlooked in Mayer Brown rejig
Mayer Brown’s London-based vice-chair Paul Maher has been overlooked in the firm’s management rejig with his US-based counterpart winning the newly created role of firmwide managing partner.
Paul Maher
As expected, the firm has elected Bert Krueger as its new chairman as part of a management overhaul that has seen it create a seven member management committee and 12 member partnership board.
London senior partner Sean Connolly has won a position on the management committee while Maher’s co-vice-chair Ken Geller, who is based in Washington DC, is to become the firm’s global managing partner.
The roles will become effective on 1 June.
The new structure replaces a triumvirate leadership structure that has seen chairman Jim Holzhauer and vice-chairs Maher and Geller run the firm along with a 16-member policy and planning committee.
This week’s issue of The Lawyer revealed the new management structure and the fact that the vice-chair role would be abolished (13 April).
According to Holzhauer the changes mark a watershed for Mayer Brown. He said: “The management committee which will have most of the authority now vested in policy and planning will be the small, nimble group needed to respond quickly and decisively to changing market conditions and capitalise more fully on the inherent strengths of our global platform.”
Under the governance structure London-based European real estate head Jeremy Clay has won a place on the partnership board.
Members of the management committee:
Palo Alto partner Cabel Chinnis
London head Sean Connolly
New York partner Paul Jorissen
Paris head Jean-Phiippe Lambert
Hong Kong partner Elaine Yo
Chicago partner Paul Theiss
Chairman Bert Krueger
Members of the partnership board together with management committee:
London partner Jeremy Clay
Charlotte partner Carol Hitselberger
Chicago partner Michelle Odorizzi
Washington DC partner Peter White
Frankfurt partner Jorg Wulfken
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Readers' comments (27)
Surprised | 17-Apr-2009 2:24 pm
Good grief - why are we trying to embarrass people? So he didn't make the top job - does that mean we should subject him to an "The Apprentice" type article about who failed? What the next headline - "Lawyer suffers miscarriage"? Let's raise our standards and try not to crush people.
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Ex-Rowe & Maw lawyer | 17-Apr-2009 2:49 pm
In response to the comment by "Surprised", I think the point of the article is as much what it doesn't say as for as what it does. For the last decade and a bit Paul Maher has been driving forward what was a sleepy, going nowhere fast, medium-sized London corporate firm. He is a very ambitious man. If there is no longer a place for him at the top table at Mayer Brown, there may just be a place set for him somewhere else.
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Anonymous | 17-Apr-2009 3:34 pm
A message for Mr Kruegger and to those who have campaigned against Maher.
Mayer Brown is going to have to face up to serious problems. Paul Maher has been the positive force behind what is now the unified firm of Mayer Brown for over the last decade and beyond.
It was Maher who was initially approached by Mayer Brown and Platt for a merger with Rowe and Maw; moreover it was Maher who lead the negotiation team with JSM. Looking in from the outside it looks as if Maher is being pushed into the shadows. Whilst this will cause costly for the development of Mayer Brown, I do wonder if Mayer may have a legal case against his colleagues. After all if it was not for him would the current legal giant of Mayer Brown exist? Moreover, Mayer Brown claims to be an International law firm, do you think the previous ‘P and P’ as it was known and the current management structure resembles this. Actually has this unified firm even had a chairman who is not from the United States? No.
As the ex- Rowe & Maw lawyer says, (perhaps the old senior partner) Maher will have offers from other law firms and when he does decide to join another firm which he inevitably will, then London will not only loose top partners but also a big chunk of their current corporate business, perhaps all of it.
Mayer Brown has made a big mistake that will prove very costly.
Mayer Brown looks very unstable; it is not clear whether it will stay as a unified firm.
One thing that is certain though, is that Paul Maher will come out on top in an unforgiving way.
By the way Maher did not write this message
from anonymous?
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Collaterly Sisters | 17-Apr-2009 3:51 pm
Maher divides opinion but you can't deny he has been the driving force behind Mayer Brown in Europe for years. I suspect the traditional Chicago core of the firm liked the success but were not so keen on power being concentrated anywhere other than Chicago.
He was tipped to be next chairman which would have been positive for London. Kruegger's election changes everything.
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Anonymous loyalty | 17-Apr-2009 4:15 pm
Has he honestly divided opinion. I believe he was voted back into his role last year with well over 75% of the partnership. I would like to see Mr Kruegger's figures. Mayer Brown has stabbed him in the back.
Mr Connolly would not be where he is today without Maher's support, i do hope he backs Maher in what is a difficult time for him.
Moreover Maher has a hugely loyal set of clients who generate millions of pounds for Mayer Brown.
After this post can those who are loyal to Maher please express their view below.
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M B partner | 17-Apr-2009 5:57 pm
Mayer Brown have probably pushed their best partner out of the door. I have worked with Maher and if he leaves the firm i think it will mark the start of a big downfall for Mayer Brown.
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Anonymous | 17-Apr-2009 6:04 pm
Great news for Mayer Brown London, they get the best man in the firm back from beating his head against clapboard siding in the Mid-west (if he stays). Having sat at the table with Maher he's an awesome talent, and has wasted the last three years trying to catch up the firms standstill period when it let the likes of Orrick, Latham and Kirkland get the jump on becoming members of the international elite.
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Anonymous | 17-Apr-2009 6:15 pm
I agree if he's back in London then great. However unfortunately i don't think he'll stay. He is better than just a standard London Partner. I think he'll see his new role at Mayer Brown as too much of a step down. Everything should be done to keep him at the firm.
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Anonymous | 17-Apr-2009 6:31 pm
The whole thing is a joke. Does the current management committee not realize he will leave the firm. We can not afford this, especially in these times. Take it from someone who has worked with him. The firm should act quickly to offer him a deal he can't resist or i am sure they will look back and be sorry.
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Anonymous | 17-Apr-2009 6:48 pm
Mayer Brown may have just made their biggest mistake to date. Anyone who knows Maher will tell you that he is far too ambitious and dynamically minded to be satisfyed with his new role whatever it will encompass.
Having worked and closely watched his personal progress for over 15 years i am deeply upset and angered that he should be repayed in this way.
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