Morgan Lewis Elects David A. McManus as Next Chair

NEW YORK, March 23, 2026: Following more than a decade of transformational leadership under Chair Jami McKeon, Morgan Lewis today announced that its partnership has unanimously elected David A. McManus as the next Chair of the firm for a five-year term starting on October 1, 2026. Mr. McManus will succeed Ms. McKeon, who has guided Morgan Lewis through a period of sustained global growth, strategic investment, and continued emphasis on client service and cross-practice collaboration since 2014.

In his more than 30 years at Morgan Lewis, Mr. McManus has an outstanding record serving in senior leadership roles at both the firm and practice levels. He sits on the firm’s Advisory Board and previously served on its Compensation Committee. He is the global leader of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice, following a tenure as its deputy leader, and spearheads cross-practice initiatives such as the Global Workforce, Workforce Change, and Crisis Management teams.

Mr. McManus is a highly regarded practitioner and trusted adviser to clients on complex, high-stakes matters—from pivotal transactions to leadership transitions and other issues shaping the future of their organizations. He has an extensive background counseling on strategy in corporate transactions and enterprise restructurings, as well as confidential C-suite matters and crises that threaten significant reputational and financial risk.

“On behalf of the entire partnership, I want to express our deep gratitude to Jami for her extraordinary impact on Morgan Lewis. She has been an inspirational and passionate leader and mentor, guiding our firm with vision, integrity, and an enduring devotion to our clients and our people—while shaping a culture that will continue to propel our future successes,” said Mr. McManus. “I have seen firsthand how that momentum has evolved, and I look forward to partnering closely with Jami in the months ahead to ensure a seamless transition and build on the foundation she set forth—reinforcing what makes us distinctive while developing in ways that position our firm for the future.”

Under Ms. McKeon’s leadership, the firm expanded its footprint across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and enhanced its offerings across key practices and industries. She has guided more than 4,000 lawyers, specialists, and professional staff across the firm through some of the most consequential and headline-defining moments in the firm’s more than 150-year history.

“It has been a true privilege to serve as Chair of Morgan Lewis and to work alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues around the world. I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished together,” said Ms. McKeon. “David is an exemplary lawyer and practitioner. He has served in important leadership roles in our firm for nearly 20 years, and he embodies the qualities that our clients and partners value most. He has a keen understanding of and focus on our clients’ businesses and needs. He is strategic, thoughtful, creative, compassionate, and collaborative—characteristics that reflect our culture and that make him ideally suited to be the next leader of our firm. I look forward to working closely with David over the next six months and I share the confidence of our partners that he is the right person to lead Morgan Lewis into the future.”

Ms. McKeon’s tenure was marked in its first month with the November 2014 strategic, high-profile combination with Bingham McCutchen, a defining moment that expanded Morgan Lewis’ platform, talent, and capabilities and further advanced its position as an elite global law firm. She subsequently led a period of continued international expansion, including the opening and growth of offices across significant global markets, while bolstering the firm’s reputation for innovation, technology, and service excellence. Under Ms. McKeon’s leadership, Morgan Lewis earned consecutive top-5 placements on The American Lawyer’s prestigious A-List and continued its more than 20 consecutive years on BTI Consulting Group’s Client Service 30. Throughout her time as Chair, Ms. McKeon emphasized client focus, disciplined growth, engagement and inclusion, and a dedication to serving the underserved through her focus on pro bono and community service—priorities that remain central to the firm’s long-term success.