On Wednesday, Robert Lewis, one of the founding partners of the US-based law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, announced his resignation as the firm's chairman. The move comes after at least 110 lawyers left the firm to join a new firm earlier this week. Lewis had played a vital role in establishing and growing the Los Angeles-based firm, which now boasts a team of approximately 1,700 lawyers, since its inception in 1979. In response to Lewis's departure, Bob Smith, the firm's co-chairman, issued a statement expressing his appreciation for Lewis's contributions and announced that he would take on the title of chairman emeritus.
Effective immediately, Lewis Brisbois will dissolve its executive committee, and a newly expanded 13-member management committee will take over the firm's oversight, according to Bob Smith, the firm's co-chairman. The management committee will undergo elections on May 9 to add five new members, who will then appoint a managing partner and other key leaders. Smith noted that the firm had been considering changes to its management structure before this week's events.
This year, Lewis Brisbois has witnessed two significant departures of lawyers. In January, 44 cybersecurity professionals, including 32 attorneys, joined competitor Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete. This week, the leaders of the firm's employment practice, John Barber and Jeffrey Ranen, left to establish their new firm, Barber Ranen, with offices in three California locations and additional lawyers nationwide. Barber has predicted that up to 140 lawyers could eventually join his new venture.
According to a statement by Bob Smith, provided on Thursday, the departing group had cited a desire for greater flexibility than what was available to them at Lewis Brisbois. Smith went on to comment that while the departure of this large group in California may appear significant, it constituted less than 8% of the firm in one practice area.
