Barnes & Thornburg Announces Detherage as Next Firm Leader

Barnes & Thornburg has elected Andrew Detherage as its next managing partner, succeeding two-term firm leader Robert Grand.

Detherage, a litigation partner, will assume his new role in November 2022, more than three decades since he joined the firm in 1989. He is the firm’s strategic planning committee chair, a management committee member, and insurance recovery and counseling practice co-chair, according to a Monday statement.

“Even though we’re a large law firm, we’ve been innovative and entrepreneurial and strategic in our growth,” Detherage told Bloomberg Law. “That’s just been a great thing to be part of.”

Indianapolis-based Barnes & Thornburg since Grand began his tenure in 2014 has added eight new offices and increased gross revenue by 38%, reaching more than $506 million in 2020. It increased its headcount from 580 to 700 in that time.

The headcount growth came despite a hot talent market and high rates of associate attrition at some firms.

“One of the things that I said seven years ago is that we wanted to be firmly entrenched in the AmLaw 100,” Grand told Bloomberg Law. “The second thing that I said that we want to do is grow top line revenue. And we did.”

Grand will stay with the firm as a partner in its government services and finance group after he steps down next year.

Detherage said a key to continuing Grand’s success will to build on the firm’s lawyer-focused culture.

“Our culture has really been the glue,” he said. “It’s made everything work for us, and it gives our lawyers a better work life experience.”

Other goals include growing the firm’s practice groups and geographic footprint, as well as improving diversity and inclusion, and associate retention and advancement, Detherage said.

The firm credits Detherage with helping expand in New York, Boston, Raleigh, Ann Arbor, Salt Lake City, and Delaware, according to the statement.