Quarles & Brady Selects Kimberly Leach Johnson as Firm’s Next Chair
First Female Elected Chair in Quarles’ 120-Year History; New Chair and Managing Partner Terms Begin October 2013
The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP and its chairman John W. Daniels Jr. today announced that Kimberly Leach Johnson has been selected as the firm’s next chairperson. Her term begins on October 1, 2013. Fredrick G. Lautz has been re-appointed as the firm’s managing partner.
“There are many outstanding partners at Quarles who could lead us forward, but Kim is a perfect reflection of the firm’s tradition of practice excellence and its progressive vision,” said Daniels. “Sheis an exceptional attorney and a collaborative, client-centric, business-minded leader, whose commitment is unsurpassed. I look forward to supporting her leadership. She understands that the most important attribute a firm can have is to create value for its clients. She will make sure Quarles continues to focus on that above all else.”
Johnson was most recently chair of the firm’s Finance Committee and managing partner of Quarles & Brady’s Naples and Tampa, Florida offices, and she continues to serve as a member of the firm’s elected Executive Committee. She is the first woman to serve as Quarles & Brady’s firm chair, adding to the organization’s long history of women leaders.
John Daniels will serve as chairman emeritus of the firm, in which role he will continue to focus on strategic counseling to business clients, with particular emphasis on financial services, health care and mid-market growth entities. Daniels will also serve as chair of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, a position he was elected to in January 2013.
“It’s been a privilege to lead Quarles & Brady with John. His energy, optimism, strategic vision and business acumen are unmatched, as is his commitment to client service. Those were exactly the leadership attributes we needed to succeed over the last six years,” said Lautz. “I look forward to working with Kim, whose insights and collaborative approach will further strengthen our culture and commitment to creating value for our clients and developing long-lasting client relationships.”
Johnson will work closely with Lautz and the rest of the leadership team in each of Quarles & Brady’s eight U.S. offices to help achieve the firm’s business plans.
“John Daniels sustained and grew Quarles & Brady during one of the most challenging economies in recent history, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to build upon that success,” said Johnson.
In Phoenix, office managing partner Jon E. Pettibone said, “We appreciate John Daniels’ sterling contribution to the success of our firm and our Phoenix office and look forward to working more closely with Kim Johnson, who is an excellent attorney, administrator and leader.”
About Kimberly Leach Johnson
Kimberly Leach Johnson practices in the area of trusts & estates. She has extensive experience representing families in the planning of their estates and the handling of affairs after individuals pass away. Johnson was named Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Collier County Women’s Bar Association in 2011 and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She earned her law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, her LL.M. degree from the University of Miami and her B.S. degree from Anderson College in Indiana.
About Fredrick G. Lautz
Firm Managing Partner Fred Lautz practices in the areas of mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance/securities, with a focus in the investment management sector. His practice heavily emphasizes mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations of all types and sizes, including numerous types of financial institutions and mutual funds, in addition to traditional manufacturing, retail, distribution and services companies. Lautz’s corporate finance/securities experience includes advising clients on corporate governance matters, buy/sell agreements, executive and equity compensation programs, general business matters and securities offerings (including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities). Lautz, a graduate of University of Wisconsin Law School, has both a MEPD and a bachelor’s degree in Math and Physics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
About John W. Daniels, Jr.
As chairman of Quarles & Brady since 2007, John Daniels has led the firm through a fundamental transformation, shifting from an individually responsible attorney model to a collaborative, business-minded organization. Daniels, a Harvard Law graduate and formerly the national president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, has established an impressive career in the practice of law, representing national, regional, local and governmental owners and investors. Daniels has won numerous awards for his leadership and advocacy of diversity, including the 2012 Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association and the 2013 Presidential Legacy Award from the National Bar Association. He was recently named the 2013 national Entrepreneur of the Year by the National Black MBA Association.
About Quarles & Brady LLP
Quarles & Brady LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 400 attorneys practicing from offices in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Naples and Tampa, Fla.; Chicago, Ill; Madison and Milwaukee, Wis.; Washington, D.C.; and Shanghai, China. The firm provides a full array of legal services to corporate and individual clients, which range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Additional information about the firm may be found at www.quarles.com, and on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
