Am Law 100 firm Seyfarth has announced that Lorie Almon is to be its next chair and managing partner, making her the first woman to lead the firm in its 77-year history. 

Almon, a partner in labour and employment, will initially serve as chair-elect alongside current chair and managing partner Pete Miller prior to his stepping down in the second half of 2023.

“I am excited that Lorie has been chosen to lead us to new heights,” Miller said. “Her experience in handling complex matters for some of the world’s leading companies makes her ideally suited to guide the firm, in conjunction with our executive committee, through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the coming years.”

Almon joined Seyfarth in 1998 from a role as assistant corporate counsel for the New York City Law Department and has been co-managing partner of its New York office since 2005, currently serving in the role alongside tax partner John Napoli. She is also a member of the firm’s executive and compensation committees and its labour and employment leadership team.

Almon has been recognised as a top lawyer for labour and employment litigation by rankings guides including Chambers USA and The Legal 500. Her practice focuses on litigation of complex claims and she serves as lead counsel in discrimination class actions, wage hour cases and FINRA arbitrations. 

“Seyfarth is in a very good place today thanks to the leadership of Pete Miller and our executive committee, and the hard work and dedication of our team of lawyers and professionals across the globe,” Almon said, adding that she was “thrilled” to have the opportunity to lead the firm. 

Miller has served as the firm’s managing partner in 2013 and took on the role of chair three years later. Under his leadership the firm has grown to 17 offices with more than 900 lawyers and annual revenue in excess of $850m. The firm set up shop in Hong Kong in 2017 and followed that up with launches in Charlotte and Seattle in the following years. 

During his time as chair Miller co-chaired the firm’s diversity and inclusion action team, a role Almon will assume when she becomes chair.

Seyfarth said that as chair and managing partner Almon will oversee global operations and be responsible for the leadership, direction, growth, profitability and culture of the entire firm. 

Her election makes her one of a small number of women to hold the top leadership positions at Am Law 100 firms. Others include M&A specialist Michele Connell, who was chosen to succeed Frederick Nance as global managing partner of Squire Patton Boggs’ US LLP last year, and litigation and disputes partner Yvette Ostolaza, who took over as chair of Sidley Austin’s management committee in April from Larry Barden.