Top 100 US law firm Blank Rome has announced details of its leadership transition plan. Litigation department chair Grant Palmer will become managing partner whilst the current chairman and managing partner Alan Hoffman will continue his term as chairman. Mr Hoffman joined Blank Rome in 1992 and rose from litigation department head to chair. He was the first in the firm’s history to be elected to both roles. Over the past 10 years,  Blank Rome has seen revenue increase by 39 per cent with profits increasing 56 per cent and profits per partner increased by 59 per cent. It recorded a 22.5 per cent increase in gross revenue to $422.5 million in 2016 and ranked 78th in the 2017 Am Law 100, rising 16 places from the previous year. Revenue per lawyer increased 3.4 per cent to $750,000 and profits per equity partner increased 2.2 per cent to $910,000. 

Strategic succession plan

'Throughout 2017, our leadership team and partners developed a strategic succession plan that upholds our commitment to serving our clients, colleagues, and communities in innovative ways. We are thrilled that as a result of this process, Grant Palmer will become our next managing partner,' said Mr Hoffman. 'Grant and I have worked closely together for more than 25 years. In addition to being a top-notch litigator, he is a trusted and respected leader. He has served the Firm in numerous leadership roles—making a significant impact as litigation department chair, overseeing more than 300 attorneys across 13 offices—as well as chair of our award-winning pro bono program. Grant has been committed to our firm, clients, and communities for decades, and we’re confident that under his leadership, Blank Rome will continue to achieve great things. I’m looking forward to partnering with Grant to lead Blank Rome, and we congratulate him on his new and well-deserved role.' Mr Palmer will take over the role on 1 January 2019.