Steve Baumer Assumes Co-Chair Role at BCLP

The global law firm BCLP today announced that St. Louis Partner Steve Baumer has formally assumed the duties of co-chair of the firm. He joins Lisa Mayhew, each of whom will serve a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Baumer succeeds Therese Pritchard, who served as chair of Bryan Cave and then co-chair of BCLP since 2014.

Since the merger of Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner in April 2018, the combined firm has progressed on a number of fronts: 24 lateral partners across practices and geographies have been added; several legal services and operations innovations – including BCLP Cubed has been launched; and diversity and inclusivity initiatives that ensure the firm maintains a work environment where all employees are valued, motivated and able to be themselves have been added. The firm also recently promoted 17 lawyers to partner, including 11 diverse lawyers, who will continue the momentum and elevate standards for the firm with a focus on strong client relationships and results.

“I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished since announcing the merger,” Mayhew said. “I look forward to working with Steve as we build on our early success and leverage our global platform and innovations for the benefit of our clients.”

Baumer was formerly leader of Bryan Cave’s global Transactions Practice. Based in the St. Louis office, he regularly advises clients involved in complex business transactions and specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Baumer has deep experience with clients in a number of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, health care, technology, life sciences, telecommunications, private equity and consumer goods.

“This is a transformational time to be sharing leadership of BCLP. We believe that our firm’s structure, absolute focus on client service excellence, and team-based approach to the practice of law set us apart in the minds of our clients,” Baumer said. “We know there is even more we can accomplish as a firm to serve our clients, and I am excited to be a part of that.”

Pritchard was elected chair in 2014 and then served as co-chair alongside Mayhew since Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner merged in 2018. She will remain a partner with the firm and plans to return to her practice, based out of BCLP’s Washington office, concentrating on securities and financial institutions enforcement and litigation.

“It is exciting and gratifying to watch BCLP move forward as a global, fully integrated firm,” Pritchard said. “We’ve accomplished a lot over the last few years, and I am extremely proud to be turning over the role of co-chair to one of the most skilled and respected lawyers in our partnership. The firm will be in good hands under Steve and Lisa’s leadership.”