Bryan Cave Names First Woman to Chair Firm

ST. LOUIS – December 18, 2013 – The international law firm Bryan Cave LLP today named Therese D. Pritchard as the next Chair of the firm beginning on October 1, 2014 following a planned transition period.  Ms. Pritchard will immediately take the title of Chair-Elect and serve alongside Don G. Lents, who has served as Chair for two consecutive terms beginning in 2004.

Ms. Pritchard will be the first woman to hold the position in Bryan Cave’s 140-year history.

“This is an exciting time of growth and opportunity for the firm, and I am extremely proud to be turning over the role of Chair to one of the most admired attorneys in our partnership,” Lents said.  “Throughout her career, Terry has distinguished herself as both a skilled attorney and a remarkable leader.  I have the utmost confidence in her and look forward to working together during this transition period and beyond.”

Ms. Pritchard joined Bryan Cave in 1999.  She is currently the leader of the firm’s White Collar, Securities Enforcement and Litigation Client Service Group.  For more than 30 years, she has concentrated her practice on securities and financial institutions enforcement and litigation, representing major public companies, banks, accounting firms, broker-dealers, investment advisors, mutual funds, hedge funds and individuals under investigation by the SEC, DOJ, FINRA and the federal banking agencies.  Ms. Pritchard is based in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Pritchard has extensive experience conducting independent investigations on behalf of, and providing counsel to, boards of directors and audit committees of public companies.  Earlier in her career, she served as Assistant Director of the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission and as Deputy Chief Counsel of the Office of Thrift Supervision, overseeing hundreds of matters, including some of the most notable Wall Street cases during that period.  She also has served as chair of the Securities Enforcement Subcommittee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association.

She has been an active leader at Bryan Cave for many years, having served on the firm’s Executive Committee and Compensation Committee.  In addition to her role leading the White Collar, Securities Enforcement and Litigation Client Service Group, Ms. Pritchard currently serves as the firm’s Asia Coordinator, responsible for overseeing Bryan Cave’s offices in Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Most recently, Ms. Pritchard was recognized as being among the top 40 securities enforcement defense attorneys in Securities Docket’s inaugural “Enforcement 40.”  In addition, she was named to the 2013 edition of Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers and was included among the Best Lawyers in America each year from 2008 to 2014.  Ms. Pritchard graduated cum laude from both Boston College Law School in 1978 and Bryn Mawr College in 1975.

Under Don Lents’ leadership, Bryan Cave has grown significantly, adding 11 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia and more than 300 lawyers over the past decade.  Between 2004 and 2014, firm-wide revenue grew by nearly 63 per cent from $384 million to $624 million.

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Don for his tireless commitment to Bryan Cave and his unwavering focus on client service, which will be a lasting legacy that will endure for many years to come,” said Ms. Pritchard.  “He has been an innovative and inspirational leader, and I will be glad to have his support and guidance as we move forward.”

Anticipating the need to broaden Bryan Cave’s geographic reach and deepen its practice capabilities, Mr. Lents spearheaded several combinations with other law firms.  In 2009, Bryan Cave combined with Powell Goldstein, firmly establishing a presence in Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte, NC and gaining a nationally-recognized community banking practice.  The 2012 combination with Holme Roberts & Owen established a new Bryan Cave presence in the Rocky Mountain region while expanding resources in California, and adding exceptional capabilities in energy and sports law.  In addition to reinforcing Bryan Cave’s U.S. footprint, Mr. Lents oversaw significant expansion around the globe, adding offices in Paris, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Singapore.

Bryan Cave LLP has a diversified international legal practice. The firm represents a wide variety of business, financial, institutional and individual clients, including publicly held multinational corporations, large and mid-sized privately held companies, partnerships and emerging companies.  Aided by extensive investments in technology, Bryan Cave’s more than 1,100 lawyers and other professionals in over 30 offices across the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe and Asia efficiently serve clients’ needs in the world’s key business and financial markets.