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Lewis Roca Unveils New Leaders For Offices, Practice Groups

Law360 Pulse
07/29/2021

Western-based law firm Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP has named two new office managing partners and three new practice group leaders, with the firm touting the appointments as a sign of its depth of talent across its offices.

According to a Wednesday announcement, intellectual property attorney Lauren Schneider will take over as managing partner for the Los Angeles and Silicon Valley offices, which are both IP-focused, and labor and employment litigator Laura Pasqualone has been named the first managing partner of the Phoenix office, which in the past was overseen by firm managing partner Ken Van Winkle.

In addition, Denver-based Doug Tumminello, who also heads up the sports, entertainment and recreation industry group, has been appointed as the head of the litigation practice; Los Angeles attorney and executive committee member Greg Lampert has been named a co-chair of intellectual property; and former executive committee member Matt Sweger is taking over as chair of the business transactions group.

“We have a tremendous number of talented leaders at our firm, and we are excited to see several of them from offices across the country take positions leading our offices and some of our key practices,” Van Winkle said in a statement.

The moves appear to come amid some intra-leadership shuffling at the firm, such as outgoing litigation chair Bob McKirgan moving into a role focused on lateral recruitment and former intellectual property co-chair Tom Daly joining the firm’s associate compensation and review committee.

The firm also completed a rebranding effort in April, now referring to itself only as Lewis Roca, and redesigning its website.

Pasqualone, the new Phoenix managing partner, told Law360 Pulse that the decision to create the role was driven by the firm’s growth. In the past, she said, Van Winkle was able to oversee the office, since he was based there. The firm, however, had reached the point where it was important to have a designated person to represent the office’s needs.

“Our office managing partners are appointed by the executive committee. … I think [my selection] had to do with my long time at the firm — I have been here my entire career — and the fact that I practice in labor and employment law,” she said.

She said she anticipates her biggest challenge for the year will be navigating the potential return to work. Although the firm supports flexible work arrangements, it was hoping to bring much of its workforce back into the office in the fall, she said, adding that the firm also wants to ensure it is responding appropriately to pandemic developments.

She also noted that the Phoenix talent market is very competitive and that she hopes to focus on finding and recruiting new attorneys and fostering the firm’s existing talent.

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