Davis Wright Tremaine has concluded its six-month search for a new managing partner by electing litigator Jaime Drozd to the position. Drozd, who had been vice chair of the firm’s executive committee, steps into the role previously held by Scott MacCormack, who unexpectedly stepped down in March. The Seattle-founded firm established an internal search committee to identify a suitable candidate, and Drozd was unanimously chosen by both the search committee and the executive committee, with a subsequent partnership vote confirming her appointment. Pete Johnson, who served as interim managing partner, will return to his role focusing on technology transactions (Bloomberg Law).
Drozd’s leadership will focus on growth in several key areas, including California, the East Coast, and the firm’s Pacific Northwest home base, where significant relationships with major technology companies like Microsoft and Amazon bolster its presence. To facilitate her new full-time role, Drozd will transition her consumer class action defense practice to colleagues. Having joined Davis Wright Tremaine in 2014 following a career with Goodwin Procter and Ogden Murphy Wallace, Drozd’s trajectory highlights her commitment to the legal profession and firm development.
The firm, well-regarded for its litigation prowess with media and technology clients such as Apple, Meta Platforms, and Netflix, employs approximately 600 lawyers and reported revenues of around $564 million last year, situating it among the top 100 largest firms in the United States. The Pacific Northwest in particular has been a magnet for law firm expansion, underscoring the region’s dynamism and appeal, which Drozd acknowledges and embraces. For instance, Philadelphia-founded Ballard Spahr recently merged with Seattle’s Lane Powell, creating an 18-office firm with over 750 lawyers (Bloomberg Law).
Drozd’s election marks a milestone as she becomes the first woman to serve as Davis Wright Tremaine’s managing partner, a role she balances alongside responsibilities as a parent and advocate for gender diversity within the legal field. She founded the firm’s women’s affinity group and acted as president of the Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, further embedding her influence within the firm’s culture. Expressing enthusiasm for her new role, Drozd highlights the potential to inspire both her own children and junior lawyers, underscoring that it is possible to excel as both a parent and a professional in law. Camilo Echavarria, chair of the firm’s executive committee, lauded Drozd as the ideal candidate, citing her combination of energy, innovative ideas, and a clear strategy to achieve the firm’s ambitious goals.