Yeah, Age Limits Might Be Necessary in World That Keeps Changing

 "Johnny Depp’s law firm Brown Rudnick has a new leader [Vincent Guglielmotti] effective Wednesday [today] after it gained notoriety in Depp’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard." - Bloomberg Law, June 15, 2022.

Guglielmotti is 41 years old. That makes him the youngest partner to become a chief executive officer of a law firm. Back in 2008, current Paul Weiss chairperson Brad Karp became leader at the relatively young age age of 48 (at least as measured in law-firm years). That was after his wow defense of Citigroup. 

What the Brown Rudnick development represents is that the torch is being passed to a new generation. Guglielmotti intends to have other young lawyers in the firm have more of say in decision-making. 

Brown Rudnick has also shown itself to break from tradition in fast-tracking the partnership of associate Camille Vasquez. Her performance art during the Depp lawsuit outdid that of much more experienced trial lawyers. She is 37 years old. 

Increasingly, what's being called "American Gerontocracy" is being attacked. As Law and More had explained, aging leadership is being positioned and packaged as out of touch in a world that is mutating. That applies to all institutions. Of course, that should include the legal sector. Who knows, age limits could be imposed on US Supreme Court justices. 

At Jones Day, current head Stephen Brogan has been allowed to continue on in the job even beyond the firm's mandated retirement age for managing partners at age 65. Brogan is about 70. Sources report he is going to step down. Before him Patrick McCartan had been managing partner for three years beyond 65.

Brown Rudnick, whose recent revenues have been $228 million, should be a model for other law firms to analyze. It's bound to produce other firsts. A recession could force the law firm sector to rethink just about everything. Meanwhile, the debate goes on if the recent layoffs at Redgrave have been an aberration or a sign of hard times on the way.

Connect with Editor-in-Chief Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com. Conjure up magical results in your communications.

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