O’Melveny & Myers, a Los Angeles-based law firm with almost 140 years of history, recently announced the reelection of Bradley Butwin as the firm’s chair for his fourth four-year term. Notably, this reelection has sealed Butwin as the longest-serving chair in the history of the firm.
Butwin is based in New York City and has successfully led the firm towards consistent growth in gross revenue during his time as O’Melveny’s chair, according to American Lawyer figures. A huge milestone was achieved in 2022 when the firm crossed the billion-dollar revenue mark.
Under Butwin’s leadership, O’Melveny has significantly expanded its footprint both domestically and internationally. In 2012, a Seoul outpost was announced, paving the firm’s way into the South Korean market. The domestic presence also received a boost with the launch of three new Texas offices in 2021 and 2022. This expansion included the addition of more than seventy lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
O’Melveny partner David Deaton, lead director of the firm’s policy committee, expressed high confidence in Butwin’s leadership. Deaton recognises Butwin’s influential role in guiding the firm through the pandemic, ensuring that it emerged stronger. The firm has been able to expand its range of client services and grown its diverse roster of talented lawyers.
Besides his leadership skills at O’Melveny, Butwin, a seasoned securities litigator, has maintained his practice throughout his tenure as chair. He has represented leading banking firms such as Bank of America Corp.
O’Melveny’s gross revenue rankings jumped from fifty-seventh to fiftieth in the most recent American Lawyer figures. In 2022, the firm boasted an impressive revenue figure just over $1 billion, up 12.4% from the $911 million in 2021. Its recorded revenue per lawyer was approximately $1.4 million, and profits per equity partner stood at $2.76 million.
Original reporting by Sam Skolnik at Bloomberg Law.