Brian Schwalb named Vice Chairman; Lindsay Meyer and Bob Waldman named Co-Managing Partners; Karl Racine to resume white collar and commercial litigation practice
Washington, DC (February 13, 2012) – Venable LLP announced today a new management team and several leadership appointments. Brian Schwalb has been named Vice Chairman and will serve alongside current firm Chairman, Jim Shea, in a newly created senior management structure. The management team, representing a cross section of offices and practice groups, will work hand-in-hand with Shea and Schwalb in leading the firm. Joining Jim and Brian are Co-Managing Partners Lindsay Meyer and Bob Waldman. Karl Racine, who served as Managing Partner for the last six years, will return to his white collar and commercial litigation law practice. These appointments are effective immediately.
In making the announcement, firm Chairman Shea said, “Since Karl announced his intention to step down as Managing Partner and to return to the full time practice of law, I have spoken with virtually every one of our equity partners to get their views on the structure of management and the continued advancement of the firm. The insights gained from those meetings suggested that a diverse and function-based management structure would best serve our interests going forward. Today’s appointments, which were enthusiastically approved by the firm’s Board, should achieve that objective.”
Brian Schwalb is a trial lawyer and civil litigator in the firm’s Washington DC office. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he represents clients across a broad spectrum of issues, ranging from real estate, commercial and contract litigation, to ownership disputes, governance and management matters, business tort cases, partnership and limited liability company disputes, employment and compensation disputes, estate and trust contests, and tax controversies.
Lindsay Meyer has been the Administrative partner for the DC Office for last 15 years; has served on the Venable Board for several years, and most recently served as Chair of the Regulatory Practice Group. She heads the firm’s International Trade Practice assisting sophisticated companies with the efficient import and export of goods under U.S. laws and regulations. She is also co-chair of Venable’s FCPA and Anticorruption Practice.
Bob Waldman has chaired Venable's Business Division and has been part of Venable senior management for several years. He leads the firm’s national representation of tax-exempt organizations and practices extensively in the areas of philanthropic and estate planning, employee benefits and taxation. Bob serves as Chairman of the Board of the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers.
“With this dynamic and accomplished team, we are well positioned to continue to prosper in the coming years,” continued Shea. “These partners, who are each respected practitioners and acknowledged leaders in the legal community, as well as within Venable, have demonstrated time and again that they are ready to take on more active roles in leading our firm.”
Shea also praised Karl Racine for his accomplishments over his nearly six year tenure as Managing Partner. Racine, a highly skilled and experienced litigator in the areas of criminal and civil litigation, is considered one of Washington’s foremost white collar attorneys. He previously served as an Associate White House Counsel under President Clinton.
“Under Karl’s leadership our firm has significantly increased in size, scope, revenue and profitability through difficult economic times. We are extremely grateful to him. We also respect his desire to return to the full time practice of law. He is a gifted leader and our friend, who will continue to provide valuable leadership and insight to our clients and our colleagues,” Shea said.
Over the last several years, Venable has expanded significantly adding offices in New York and Los Angeles and growing its capabilities in its Washington headquarters and its Baltimore and Northern Virginia offices. The firm now numbers more than 500 attorneys in seven offices.
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Note: An American Lawyer Global 100 law firm, Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia, Venable LLP lawyers and legislative advisors serve the needs of our domestic and global clients in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory, and government affairs.