Goodwin Procter Executive Who Led Growth Strategy Leaves (1)

After a decade as Goodwin Procter chief operating officer, Michael Caplan is leaving the tech-geared law firm to join New Jersey-founded Lowenstein Sandler.

Caplan, who led Goodwin’s business and financial operations since 2014, will depart on March 15, according to an internal Wednesday email from Goodwin leadership seen by Bloomberg Law. Goodwin confirmed the veracity of the email but declined to comment further. Caplan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Caplan will have the role of COO at his new firm. “We are thrilled that Mike Caplan will be joining us,” said Lowenstein Sandler chair and managing partner Gary Wingens in a statement. “Our entire executive committee and senior management team look forward to working with Mike to accelerate our growth trajectory in the coming months and years,” he said.

Caplan joined Goodwin in 2014 as its COO from March & McLennan Companies, where he had been the chief operating officer of its 140-lawyer legal department and risk and compliance department.

As Goodwin’s COO, Caplan managed the firm’s business, financial and administrative operations and focused on the firm’s growth strategy. He also served on the executive and management committees.

In his decade as COO, Goodwin has transformed from 755-lawyer firm with $785 million in gross revenue to a 1,600-lawyer firm that brought in $2.2 billion in 2022, according to figures reported by the American Lawyer.

“Goodwin has been transformed in many ways—we have delivered unequaled value and outcomes for our clients, we have professionalized our operations, and we have aligned our lawyers and our GO! Team with our strategic objectives,” said firm chair Anthony McCusker and firm managing partner Mark Bettencourt in the email.

There have also been challenges. In January 2023 Goodwin laid off about 5% of its attorney and business staff, citing levels that were “too high for our current and projected demand.”

Heidi Goldstein Shepherd, the firm’s chief talent officer and assistant general counsel for employment, will serve as interim chief operating officer. The firm is also launching a search for a new COO, the email said.