NEW YORK, March 1, 2005- LAWFUEL – The Law News Network -Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced today that Ralph Baxter has been reelected Chairman and CEO, a position he has held since 1990. His sixth, three-year term runs from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2007.
Under Mr. Baxter’s leadership, Orrick has grown from a 250-lawyer domestic law firm to one of the world’s most prominent firms, with more than 700 lawyers in 14 offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In the last year, the firm opened an office in Rome; welcomed a 24-lawyer team from Clifford Chance’s West Coast offices in the U.S., and added highly regarded partners to its offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tokyo. In January, Orrick announced the opening of an office in Taipei to expand the firm’s presence in Asia and provide U.S. litigation-related services to the firm’s Taiwan-based clients.
“It is a great honor to have the confidence and support of my colleagues, whose talents and commitment to excellence are second to none,” said Baxter. “I attribute Orrick’s remarkable success over the years to our firm’s unique culture—above all, our dedication to teamwork in the service of our clients. I am proud of the accomplishments of Orrick’s lawyers and staff. And I look forward with great excitement to the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Commenting on Baxter’s reelection, New York partner John MacKerron, who is managing director of Orrick’s offices firm-wide, said: “Ralph has contributed immensely to Orrick’s success, through his boundless energy, strong leadership, and inspiring spirit of optimism. His reelection reflects our shared belief that Ralph has helped set Orrick on the right path, and that, with his guidance, we will continue to build on our strengths, expand geographically, and offer clients and employees alike a unique and rewarding experience.”
Mr. Baxter is widely recognized as a pioneer in law firm management. In 2002, he oversaw the opening of Orrick’s innovative Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia. The facility consolidates the firm’s finance, technology, and other operations, providing around-the-clock service to all the firm’s international offices. Baxter also helped create Orrick’s Community Responsibility Program (CRP) in 2001 to orchestrate the firm’s pro bono legal services, financial support, and volunteer efforts. The CRP ensures that the firm’s resources are strategically organized and deployed to maximize their impact on the community as well as the number of Orrick lawyers and staff who have a chance to participate directly in the firm’s sponsored activities.
Prior to his election as Chairman and CEO, Mr. Baxter practiced employment law and led Orrick’s employment practice, which he founded in 1980. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1974, where he served on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review.
About Orrick
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is an international law firm with approximately 700 lawyers in North America, Europe, and Asia. The firm focuses on litigation, complex and novel finance, and innovative corporate transactions. Orrick clients include Fortune 100 companies, major industrial and financial corporations, commercial and investment banks, high-growth companies, governmental entities, start-ups, and individuals. The firm’s 14 offices are located in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County, Pacific Northwest, London, Milan, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, and Taipei.
