Quarles & Brady changes leadership structure

Milwaukee-based law firm Quarles & Brady named managing partner Mike Aldana as the new chair for the firm effective Oct.1, the law firm announced Wednesday. As a managing partner, Aldana will lead the firm’s executive committee in developing goals, strategies and policies for the firm. Since Aldana will take on responsibilities of the Quarles & Brady’s chair in the past, the firm chose to eliminate the chair title, Aldana said.

The law firm also created the new position of president, which will be held by Brad Vynalek. As president, Vynalek will collaborate with partners and other attorneys across the firm to leverage new opportunities with existing clients while also focusing on key industries and markets to expand the firm's signature practices. “We thought this made more sense than the previous chair-managing partner position, which had overlapping duties,” Aldana said. “This also plays to Brad’s and my strengths.” The firm’s current chair, Kim Johnson, has held the position since 2013. After concluding her term Sept. 30, Johnson will continue to focus on her estate, trust and wealth preservation practice. "This new leadership structure is exactly what the firm needs to take our client-focused commitment to the next level," Johnson said in a statement. "While the structure is important, it's the people involved who matter most. Mike and Brad are wonderful leaders who together provide the combination of skills we need to help Quarles & Brady continue achieving its ambition in the years ahead." The company has also hired two key C-suite positions in the last year, including chief operating officer David Fleisher and chief business development officer Jill Weber. The law firm has also taken on a renewed focus on diversity over the last few months in light of the civil unrest around the country, Aldana added. The firm recently hired N. Cornell Boggs III to continue the firm’s momentum in diversity, inclusion and client relations. Boggs, a general counsel, has held several positions with Fortune 500 companies including Thrivent Financial. He’s also held positions with Toys “R” Us, Dow Corning and was formerly chief responsibility and ethics officer for MillerCoors. “He’s helping connect us with his network,” Aldana said. “We’ve started an African American experience initiative at Quarles to address some of the concerns the whole country is now grappling with and doubling down on our diversity recruiting efforts.” Quarles & Brady is a national law firm with offices in 10 cities across the United States. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Quarles and Brady has seen in up tick in business in its health, labor and employment and bankruptcy practices, Aldana said. “There have been groups that have seen a lot of activity in the last six months,” he said. “The firm is built to battle these economic cycles and some of these counter cyclical groups have gotten busy.”