Lewis Brisbois has announced the hiring of Richard Davis, the former Chief Operating Officer of McGuireWoods, to serve in the same role at their firm. Davis brings with him a wealth of experience from his five-year tenure at McGuireWoods and his prior position as managing director at consultancy Navigant, a role he held until the firm’s acquisition by Guidehouse in 2019. In his new position, Davis replaces Jay McAveeney, a Chicago-based consultant who has been operating as interim COO since February.
This leadership change comes amid a significant period of restructuring for Lewis Brisbois. Earlier this year, the firm severed ties with its Chief Financial Officer Brian Gedeon and Chief Client Relations Officer Barbara Cheen, following a wave of departures that saw nearly 140 lawyers leave the firm in 2023. This period of transition has also included major shifts in the firm’s upper management, with long-term leader Bob Lewis stepping down as chair, co-founder Bob Smith retiring, and Gregory Katz taking over as managing partner.
The Los Angeles-founded firm primarily focuses on insurance work and is looking to stabilize and grow after these significant structural overhauls. According to Davis, “Lewis Brisbois’ leaders are ready to embrace change and are committed to building upon the firm’s strong base.” Managing Partner Gregory Katz echoed this sentiment, stating that the firm has been making strategic hires across the country, including talented lateral attorneys and experienced professionals to lead key departments.
J. Tracy Walker IV, Managing Partner of McGuireWoods, praised Davis as a “thoughtful, caring leader who made valuable contributions” during his time at the firm and expressed best wishes for Davis in his new role at Lewis Brisbois.
For further details, please see the original article on Bloomberg Law.