Lewis Brisbois Names McGuireWoods’ Davis Chief Operating Officer

Lewis Brisbois hired a former McGuireWoods chief operating officer Richard Davis to serve in the same role.

Davis spent five years at McGuireWoods and before that he served as managing director at consultancy Navigant from 2015 until the year Guidehouse acquired the company in 2019.

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith’s newly-hired COO takes over for Jay McAveeney, a Chicago-based consultant who served in the role on an interim basis since February.

Lewis Brisbois in February cut ties with two top managers as it continued 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, were both departing, according to an internal memo Bloomberg Law viewed at the time.

Richard Davis

Photo: Lewis Brisbois

The Los Angeles-founded firm largely focuses on insurance work. Since the mass exodus 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.

“Lewis Brisbois’ leaders are ready to embrace change and are committed to building upon the firm’s strong base,” Davis said in a statement Tuesday.

Katz said in the statement that the firm has been working to “make strategic hires throughout the country, bringing in talented lateral attorneys and groups, as well as experienced professionals to lead and bring change in key departments.”

Reached for comment on Davis’ move, J. Tracy Walker IV, managing partner of McGuireWoods, said: “Rich is a thoughtful, caring leader who made valuable contributions to our success over the past five years. We are deeply grateful to Rich and wish him the best as he begins a new chapter in his career.”