Barnes & Thornburg elects veteran litigator as next managing partner

US top 100 firm Barnes & Thornburg has named Andrew Detherage as its next managing partner, succeeding Robert Grand, who has held the role since 2014. 

Detherage will take on the top job next November when Grand steps down following the completion of his second term as the Indianapolis-based firm’s managing partner. Grand will continue to practice in its government services and finance group and remain active in practice development and community involvement after handing over the reins, the firm said on Tuesday. 

A litigation expert by trade, Detherage has spent the entirety of his legal career with Barnes & Thornburg, including more than two decades as a partner. 

Prior to his election as managing partner, Detherage served in a number of leadership roles with the firm as chair of  Barnes’ strategic planning committee, co-chair of its insurance recovery and counseling practice and as a member of the firm’s management committee. 

Barnes credits Detherage as a key player in its successful office openings in New York, Raleigh, Boston, Ann Arbor and Salt Lake City. He also assisted in the firm’s launch in Wilmington, Delaware back in January, a move that added eight lawyers and consultants to its network in the northeast. 

Speaking on the transition, Detherage said Grand’s leadership “marked an extraordinary period of growth and prosperity for the firm,” adding that he “couldn’t be more excited to continue on that path while doubling down on our commitment to our lawyer-focused culture, DEI and delivering exceptional client service.”

“Having known and worked side by side with Andy during most of my career, I am confident that the future leadership of Barnes & Thornburg is in excellent hands,” Grand said. 

During Grand’s tenure as managing partner, he led the firm to expand its gross revenue by 38% from $346m in 2014 to $506m in 2020 and oversaw eight office openings, which increased the firm’s lawyer headcount from 580 to 700. 

A number of other prominent US law firms have shuffled their leadership teams as of late, including Steptoe & Johnson, which announced earlier this week it had elected Washington DC litigation partner Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar as chair of its executive committee.

Squire Patton Boggs, meanwhile, named Michele Connell as global managing partner of the firm’s US LLP in September and back in April Sidley Austin announced it had elected litigation and disputes partner Yvette Ostolaza as the next chair of its management committee.