Barnes & Thornburg Announces Succession Plan

INDIANAPOLIS (May 28, 2014) – Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that Robert T. Grand will assume the position of firm managing partner, effective Nov. 1. Alan A. Levin, who has served as firm managing partner since 1997, announced to firm partners earlier this year his decision to step down from his day-to-day management duties. Levin will assume a new leadership position as chairman emeritus.

The managing partner transition results from a well-coordinated succession planning process. The firm’s Management Committee selected Grand, who is currently vice chair of the committee and is managing partner of the Indianapolis office. He will work closely with Levin over the next several months to ensure the seamless transition of responsibilities and continuity in the firm’s operations. In his new role, Levin will be an ex-officio member of the Management Committee and assist in recruiting and other strategic initiatives, and remain active in the firm, advising corporate clients on employee benefits issues, serving on local boards, and participating in civic and community initiatives.

During his 17 years as firm managing partner, Levin has guided the firm to significant growth, doubling its size by the number of offices, attorney headcount and total headcount. Under his leadership, the firm maintained its Midwestern roots while establishing a national profile and opening offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Los Angeles, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Wilmington, Delaware. During this stretch, the firm also became one of the top 100 law firms by revenue in the country.

“Unlike the typical M&A strategy that many firms have pursued, our growth has been achieved through a successful organic approach of adding attorneys in key markets and geographies where clients have legal needs,” Levin said. “The firm’s expanded footprint, combined with its leading national practices and value-oriented culture, make it an increasingly attractive destination for attorneys and clients who seek a more efficient, yet sophisticated platform of delivering legal services.”

Specific to lateral attorney additions, Barnes & Thornburg has ranked ninth by percentage among all national law firms in the last five years, while continuing to expand and deepen its core practice groups and industry sector capabilities, putting it on par with the top law firms in the country.

“Barnes & Thornburg is a rising firm, and Bob is poised to continue carrying out our strategic vision and maintaining our strong financial and operational position,” Levin added. “The timing is ideal and will best serve the firm and our clients.”

“Alan is a consensus builder, and thanks to his collaborative leadership style, the firm has catapulted to a market-leading position,” Grand said. “It’s an exciting time to begin serving Barnes & Thornburg in this new capacity, and I plan to build on Alan’s accomplishments and continue the firm’s commitment to attracting top talent and serving the needs of clients on a national basis.”

Grand will leverage the experience gained through his service as managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Indianapolis office, the largest of the firm’s locations. As a member of the Governmental Services & Finance Department, Grand’s governmental regulation practice includes the representation of public and private clients before state and federal agencies and the U.S. Congress.

About Bob Grand

Grand served as administrative assistant to former Indiana Lt. Gov. Bob Orr (1979-1981) and then Gov. Bob Orr (1981-1982). He has been an advisor for many Indiana Republican candidates and elected officials.

Grand is also deeply involved in the community, serving on the board of his alma mater, Wabash College, and the Board of Visitors of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. In addition, he serves on the boards of the Little Red Door Cancer Agency and Outreach, Inc., which supports homeless youth in the Indianapolis area. He also formerly served on the boards of The Indianapolis Foundation, the Indianapolis Urban League and Capital Improvement Board of Managers (of Marion County, Indiana). A complete biography is available here.

About Alan Levin

Levin concentrates his practice on the many legal issues surrounding employee benefits. His practice encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, including design of both qualified and non-qualified retirement plans.

He is very active in the Indianapolis community. He serves on several boards, including as a trustee of The Indianapolis Foundation and the Central Indiana Community Foundation. Levin is a board member of Christel House Academy, an Indianapolis public charter school, and a board member of Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. A complete biography is available at here.

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from its offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com.