Therese Pritchard Takes the Helm at Bryan Cave

Washington, D.C., Oct. 1, 2014 - The international law firm Bryan Cave LLP today announced that Washington, D.C. partner Therese Pritchard has formally assumed the duties of Chair of the firm. Pritchard succeeds Don Lents following a nine-month transition period that began in December 2013. Lents will remain a partner in the firm, working with clients and maintaining an active civic presence in St. Louis.

Founded in 1873, Bryan Cave has grown from a regional to a global firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 24 offices around the world. During Lents’ 10-year tenure as Chair, the firm grew significantly, adding 11 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia, and increasing in size by over 300 lawyers. Pritchard is the first woman to be named Chair in the firm’s 140-year history. In her new role, Pritchard will focus on developing greater market awareness of the value Bryan Cave lawyers deliver to clients every day, including investing extensive time in understanding their business and industry, addressing their increasing need for specialized expertise, and providing innovative solutions to legal and pricing challenges.

“Through a continued focus on innovation in the way we provide legal services, we will be able to exceed client expectations for high-quality, cost-effective, seamless services in an increasingly complex regulatory environment around the world,” Pritchard said. “We are continually working to create better alignment of our clients’ interests and ours.”

With a continued focus on diversity, Pritchard also plans to build on the firm’s commitment in this area. Bryan Cave recently was recognized with the WILEF 2014 Gold Standard Certification for the firm’s achievements in the number of women in leadership positions and has earned a 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for the past seven years.

Pritchard joined Bryan Cave in 1999. Her practice has concentrated on securities and financial institutions enforcement and litigation, representing major public companies, banks, accounting firms, broker-dealers, investment advisers, mutual funds, hedge funds and individuals under investigation by the SEC, DOJ, FINRA and the federal banking agencies. She has extensive experience conducting independent investigations on behalf of, and providing counsel to, boards of directors and audit committees of public companies.

“I have worked with Terry for many years and have long appreciated her strategic thinking, integrity and passion for what she does,” said Ron DeFeo, CEO of Terex, a global large equipment manufacturer. “I know she will bring those same characteristics to her work as Chair of Bryan Cave, and I congratulate her on her new role with the firm.”

Earlier in her career, Pritchard 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.

Pritchard has been an active leader at Bryan Cave for many years, having served on the firm’s Executive Committee and Compensation Committee. She most recently led the firm’s White Collar, Securities Enforcement & Litigation Client Service Group and served as Asia Coordinator, responsible for overseeing Bryan Cave’s offices in Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Pritchard was recognized among the top 40 securities enforcement defense attorneys in Securities Docket’s inaugural “Enforcement 40.” She recently was named to Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching list for 2015. In addition, she has been included among the Best Lawyers in America each year from 2008 to 2014. Pritchard graduated cum laude from Boston College Law School in 1978.

About Bryan Cave LLP

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 midsized privately held companies, partnerships and emerging companies. Aided by extensive investments in technology, Bryan Cave’s more than 1,000 attorneys across the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe and Asia serve clients’ needs in the world’s key business and financial markets.