Maher takes leave of absence from Mayer Brown
Share
Mayer Brown vice chairman Paul Maher has issued a highly unusual statement regarding his future at the Chicago-headquartered firm, announcing his decision to take a leave of absence following the firm’s recent leadership elections.
In the internal statement, seen by The Lawyer, Maher said: “In recent days I have been approached about several interesting opportunities. To give them careful consideration, which I am sure will understand I must do, I have requested and been granted a short sabbatical leave from the firm. Whatever my decision will be, it will involve me alone.”
Maher’s sabbatical follows widespread speculation about his role at the firm after it elected Bert Krueger to chairman earlier this month, while his US-based counterpart Ken Geller was elected to the newly created role of firmwide managing partner. The London-based Maher’s failure to get the top job triggered an outpouring of supportive comments on TheLawyer.com (17 April).
It is understood that Maher had difference of opinion over the strategic direction of the global firm. The renewed dominance of US partners in Mayer Brown’s management has been seen as heralding a more inward-looking strategy (20 April).
In his statement Maher said: “For the record I have long been a strong advocate for governance change and fully endorse the new structure. Bert Krueger and the new management team are very capable and I am confident they will continue to run the firm successfully.”
The announcement, which was sent in the name of the firm’s current chairman Jim Holzhauer, highlights Maher’s prominent role in the 2002 Rowe & Maw merger with Mayer Brown & Platt.
“Paul is a strong advocate of expanding the firm’s global footprint, which he helped bring about as the firm’s primary negotiator of Mayer Brown’s combination with JSM in Asia,” the statement said.
View results 10 per page | 20 per page | 50 per page
Readers' comments (23)
playftsefrome | 29-Apr-2009 10:37 am
Prima donnas are alive and well in the City, recession or no.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 29-Apr-2009 11:27 am
Prima donna. Nooooooooooooo! I imagine this is his way of telling he firm he really will be leaving unless he gets a senior role in the firm (having threatened this in the past). Interesting comment re JSM. Many partners (especially in the US) think this was a massive costly near mistake...
One really interesting point - Bert Krueger was the only member of the management board who voted against the 2002 merger with Rowe & Maw. What does that tell you?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 29-Apr-2009 11:54 am
Maher is a huge loss for Mayer Brown. Rowe & Maw had nowhere near the reputation Mayer Brown has in the UK now. That is down to Paul Maher. There may well be a UK presence on the new board but that's not very significant in my view. The person who has driven the firm in Europe is nearly out the door. What does that say about the future of Mayer Brown in Europe?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 29-Apr-2009 12:08 pm
It's ironic that Maher insisted on being the face and voice of Mayer Brown in Europe (only he and Connolly were allowed to speak to the press) and now his demise is being played out in full gaze of the media. Must be very humiliating for the poor guy.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 29-Apr-2009 2:37 pm
If you're going to leave a firm on your own initiative, do it quickly and quietly. If you're being asked to go, take revenge and damage it's reputation. So what do we think is happening here?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 29-Apr-2009 4:11 pm
There does not appear to be anything vengeful or damaging in the internal email to partners which has been leaked to the press and reproduced here. In fact, there is a statement of support and respect for the new chairman.
When the most prominent face of the firm, and the one most closely associated with the firm's progess to date, looks to leave for whatever reasons, it is bound to create public interest.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 29-Apr-2009 6:37 pm
As predicted, Maher has opportunities that present him with the chance for a great future away from Mayer Brown. Despite what anyone says, it will be Mayer Brown alone that misses out. I am very surprised though that it has gone this far.
I work for Mayer Brown and let me publicly state that I and other fellow colleagues are considering our options in light of what has happened. Big mistake Mayer Brown!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 30-Apr-2009 6:43 am
The firm knew full well Maher would leave if he wasn't given a (the?) top job at the firm. So it's effectively a force out rather than a voluntary deparure. Maher is well aware that anything he says internally will end up on the interne. Rumours are already flooding the recruitment market that someone (who could it be?) is shopping around either the whole London office or large parts of the corporate practice to other firms.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 30-Apr-2009 11:10 am
Mayer Brown's decision had little to do with a disagreement about the strategic direction of the firm and everything to do with Maher's acceptability to the partnership. His dictatorial style of leadership clashed with the consensus building nature of the legacy Mayer Brown partners. As to the "outpouring of support," I suspect its mostly Maher's PR machine that has so effectively kept him (and not the firm or the London office) in the press so often.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 30-Apr-2009 3:58 pm
Maher got voted back in as VC last year by a significant majority and so would appear acceptable to the partnership.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment