International transatlantic law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson, has announced Merrick Benn as its new US Chair, marking the firm’s first leadership transition since its establishment. This significant development was initially reported by Bloomberg Law.
Benn, a crucial figure in Womble Bond Dickinson’s leadership structure, is set to begin his duties as Chair on January 1st, succeeding the current US head Betty Temple, who has commendably led the firm since 2016. His tenure will put him at the helm of the firm’s management committee, responsible for overseeing domestic strategy, operations, profitability, and organizational structure. Moreover, Benn will share the position of global board co-chair with UK managing partner Paul Stewart.
Womble Bond Dickinson was born out of a transatlantic merger between North Carolina-based Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice and UK’s Bond Dickinson back in 2017. The merger resulted in a robust firm of over 1,000 attorneys across 32 offices. Still, despite a unifying name, the firm operates as two separate non-profit-sharing partnerships with independent boards.
Benn’s journey with the firm began when he joined Womble Carlyle in 2009 as a global finance partner. Following the merger in 2017, he was elected to the firm’s management committee, serving three terms. His other notable roles within the company include being appointed to the executive committee, serving as US vice chair, acting as the leader of the capital markets practice group, and co-chairing the diversity committee.
In statements released by the firm, Benn’s capabilities and potential were recognized and lauded by his colleagues. His predecessor, Betty Temple, referred to him as an accomplished attorney, a courageous leader, and an effective problem solver with the potential to raise the firm to impressive new heights.
It’s also worth noting that Paul Stewart took over as the UK managing partner in 2022, succeeding Jonathan Blair. Blair, alongside Temple, was instrumental in guiding the merger process and both served as co-chairs of the now unified firm.