DLA Piper has for the first time appointed vice chairs for some Chicago practice groups, seeking to aid those who chair large practice groups and provide additional leadership opportunities for lawyers in the office.
The law firm, with 270 attorneys in Chicago, appointed Tina Martini as vice chairperson of the intellectual property group; Michael O’Neil as vice chairperson of the litigation & arbitration group; and Rich Klawiter as vice chairperson of the real estate group.
The move is designed to “reduce the burden” on leaders of large groups; beef up administration, planning, integration and marketing resources for the groups; and open up more leadership posts for people in the office, according to the firm.
DLA Piper lawyers worldwide feel connected at a local level while working at the world’s largest law firm, said William Rudnick, the firm’s managing partner in Chicago.
“When you have 3,800 lawyers, you have to do things that make the firm feel small,” Rudnick told the NLJ.