Mayer Brown’s co-vice-chair Paul Maher has officially resigned from the firm after announcing that he would be taking a leave of absence to consider his options.
Paul Maher (pictured) has officially resigned from Mayer Brown following his announcement on 28 April that he would be taking a leave of absence to consider his options.
Maher, who is still technically vice-chairman of the US-UK firm until 1 June, tendered his resignation last Friday. His decision was announced to the partnership that day by London senior partner Sean Connolly, but his departure date has yet to be finalised.
Maher’s exit leaves internal governance issues at the firm still in flux. Mayer Brown’s new governance structure takes effect on 1 June, but the 12-strong partnership board, which is elected by the partners, has not yet been filled. Following the first round of elections, which did not see a clear consensus, the firm is now conducting a second set of elections to decide on the US partners on the board.
Seven lawyers have won places: London partner Jeremy Clay, Charlotte partner Carol Hitselberger, Chicago partner Michelle Ororizzi, Washington DC partner Peter White, Frankfurt partner Jorg Wulfken, London partner Ian Coles and Berlin partner Friedrich Merz were elected to the partnership committee on 15 May.
Mayer Brown’s partnership will select the remaining partners via a ballot, which closes this Friday (22 May).
Maher had been expected to succeed Jim Holzhauer as chairman, but that position was taken by Chicago partner Bert Krueger.
The six-strong management committee, which was appointed by the previous partnership committee, comprises of London head Sean Connolly, Paris head Jean-Philippe Lambert, Hong Kong partner Elaine Lo, Chicago partner Paul Theiss, New York partner Paul Jorissen and Palo Alto partner Cabell Chinnis.
Many partners now filling board seats are some of the same partners who Maher tried to sideline over the years. This must really sting and signal the firm is moving back to its roots. After all the damage caused, who wouldbe brave enough to take him on at a new firms. Some of the firms mentioned to date (Lathams and Deweys) are home to senior partners Maher had turned out of MB.They don’t seem likely to put out the welcome mat.
As a client of Maher I can confidently state that the previous blogger is likely to become a laughing stock.
Not quite “in limbo” is it, with a continuing and fully supported Chairman, another Vice Chairman (who will now be managing partner), a fully constituted policy and planning committee – a new structure fully approved with a couple of places to be voted in a democratic and open run-off.
Shouldn’t this be “Maher in Limbo”…..
Yawn!! Is there no end to the coverage of this meaningless story? Unless I’m very much mistaken a solicitor has left the law firm where he used to work. Or has something of national importance happened that I’ve somehow missed? You can see the editors all working on the headlines can’t you? “Solicitor Resigns from Law Firm Shock”. “Lawyer Quits Job”. “Man Who No-one Has Ever Heard Of Leaves Law Firm That No-one Has Ever Heard Of”. Hold the front page.
Hang on a minute, respect should be given when and where it is deserved. Maher deserves respect for the amount he has achieved in the legal world and it’s clear he will have a bright future away from Mayer Brown. Take it from someone who knows very high profile lawyers around the city; offers are flying at Maher from all angles. The guy certainly isn’t in ‘limbo’ quite the opposite in fact.
Maher has always been a game of at least two halves : full of drive and good ideas for the business, loyal to his clients but very hard to live with. He was able to deliver the old Rowe & Maw – minus a few who had seen the light and who went on to thrive elsewhere – to a Maher Brown whose New York office had demanded a London platform. Once the shine of the new London presence started to fade, Maher’s lack of charm was bound to grate with his very statesman-like Chicago colleagues. Only those firms whose strategy calls for an alley cat amongst the pigeons are likely to be brave enough to invite him in. In this market, there may be more calls for his talents in PE/hedge funds that need to shake down their portfolios than with firms who will be fearful that key assets will walk as Maher arrives.
I’d like to see someone with Paul Maher’s talent and ability take on a role outside the law.
Rather than hiding in the shadows, content with pulling in a million a year advising other people taking the risks in life, it’s rare to see a high-profile City lawyer do something other than jump to another firm.
It won’t happen of course, but what about politics, the public sector, or something entrepreurial like starting a new business with all the money he is likely to have made.
the firm’s international side is collapsing and the loss of paul maher and other key people in the firm london offices are part and parcel of an ego/ethnocentric/xenophobic american law firm losing its way on the international stage.
run, run, run for the hills.
4.58pm… please see comment at 4.43pm re lack of charm for the answer to your question. Maher has tipped numerous lawyers out of the firm or they have fled his management regime. All these lawyers have gone to other firms and/or will have noted their issues whereever they interviewed. The word will be well and truly out about Maher and his shortcomings, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up, particularly as his muh vaunted billings aren’t really what they once were. I agree he’d do much better in commerce (eg a fund) than he will in the law.
Let us be honest here, a significant proportion of what has been said on these recent blogs must be discarded. The comments in many cases have a political slant favouring the hard line ex- Mayer Brown and Platt lawyers who will never side with Maher no matter what it is he does.
I would hasten to add that if you treat someone in an unjust way it is a natural phenomenon that they won’t be your best friend; Americans should know this!
This would explain why he has loyal support in London and as mentioned a set of loyal clients who evidently enjoy working with him.
I wonder why people posting comments at 2:28 in the morning want Maher to leave law. Could it have anything to do with the fact that when Maher leaves he will take very valuable clients and other lawyers with him? Something of course that probably wouldn’t happen if he joined a fund.
Mayer Brown America is going to have to face up to the fact that by ousting Maher their reputation and financial position especially in London will diminish.
Let us be honest here, a significant proportion of what has been said on these recent blogs must be discarded. The comments in many cases have a political slant favouring the hard line ex- Rowe and Maw lawyers who will never side against Maher no matter what it is he does.
I would hasten to add that if you treat someone in an unjust way it is a natural phenomenon that they won’t be your best friend; Brits should know this!
This would explain why he has no support outside London (and not much in London itself) and as mentioned a set of unimportant but loyal clients who evidently enjoy working with him, even though most of them now have no work to give.
Sure thing, ‘unimportant but loyal clients’ who enjoy working with him and have generated on average in excess of $20 Million dollars a year for the last five years including last year. London is still also the worlds prime business centre. Americans should know this!
Surely Maher must be having sleepless nights concerning the lack of support he receives from a xenophobic dying American law firm. Maher it looks to me as if you’re in serious trouble, good luck!