Lewis Brisbois Top Officers Leaving in Back-Office Shakeup (1)

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith is cutting ties with two top managers as the firm continues a string of overhauls following the mass exodus of nearly 140 lawyers last year.

Brian Gedeon, the firm’s chief financial officer, and Barbara Cheen, the chief client relations officer, will be leaving the firm, according to an internal Lewis Brisbois memo viewed Wednesday by Bloomberg Law.

“We initiated a process to streamline and elevate back-office operations to make sure our clients are getting the best possible service,” the firm said in a statement. Gedeon declined to comment and Cheen could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Los Angeles-founded firm of more than 1,500 US lawyers largely focuses on insurance work, with large clients including Chubb Ltd., Home Depot Inc. and Ford Motor Co. Since the mass exodus last May it has seen its longtime leader, Bob Lewis, step down as chair, the executive committee disband, co-founder Bob Smith retire and Gregory Katz take over as managing partner.

The changes to the back office “will ensure that we have the best services for continued growth and are better equipped to provide the exceptional service our clients expect and deserve,” the firm said in its statement.

Jay McAveeney and Tim Armstrong will take over as Lewis Brisbois’ interim chief operating officer and interim chief financial officer, according to the firm memo.

Lewis Brisbois has seen a string of senior departures in recent months. Julie Maurer, a Phoenix-based attorney who led the transportation and cargo and logistics groups, joined Husch Blackwell in January. Danny Worker, the leader of Lewis Brisbois’ Chicago office, and eight other lawyers left Feb. 1 to join Clyde & Co.

Lewis Brisbois has also made some notable hires, bringing on Daron Watts, a former Sidley Austin partner, as the head of its government affairs practice.

The firm reported $703 million in revenue in 2022, according to American Lawyer data. The firm has not revealed its financial figures from last year but said in Wednesday’s statement that “2023 was one of our strongest years yet.”