Morgan Lewis Announces New Global Leadership Team as David McManus Begins Chair Term

October 1, 2026: Morgan Lewis today announced its new global leadership team as David McManus commences his five-year term as Firm Chair.

A Morgan Lewis partner for more than 30 years and a longtime leader at both the firm and practice levels, Mr. McManus is organizing the firm’s new leadership team around a focus on the firm’s elite practices and unified culture. His vision for the future of the firm centers on four foundational pillars: seamless client service; relentless practice development; unparalleled professional culture; and disciplined innovation. Supporting these priorities is a leadership team with distinct responsibilities across global strategy, talent, performance, and operations.

The global leadership team includes:

• Christina Melendi, Managing Partner of Global Strategy. Christina will guide the development and execution of the firm’s global practice and growth strategy, working closely with practice and industry leadership. A New York partner in the firm’s corporate and business transactions practice, Christina has led that practice for the past two years and serves on the firm’s Advisory Board.
• Bart W.S. Bassett, Managing Partner of Global Talent. Bart will lead the firm’s global talent strategy, working with practice leadership and the firm’s professional teams to support the development, advancement, and success of lawyers across Morgan Lewis. A Silicon Valley partner in the firm’s tax practice, Bart has led the global tax practice for 14 years and serves on the firm’s Advisory Board.
• Steven A. Reed, Managing Partner of Global Performance. Steve will focus on aligning practice and partner performance to execute on the firm’s global strategic priorities. A Philadelphia partner in the firm’s antitrust and competition practice, Steve has led that practice for more than 12 years and serves on the firm’s Advisory Board.
• Tony Licata, Chief Operating Officer. Appointed chief operating officer in 2014, Tony will continue to lead the firm’s global professional teams and oversee its business operations. Tony has more than two decades of management and business leadership experience across the legal and professional services sectors, including financial management, business operations, and strategic planning.

“Christina, Bart, Steve, and Tony are accomplished leaders who bring deep institutional knowledge, sound judgment, and distinct perspectives to their roles,” said Mr. McManus. “This structure creates clear accountability across key areas of the firm and gives us greater capacity to execute with focus and agility.”

Mr. McManus assumes leadership at a time when businesses are confronting legal challenges that intersect with broader questions of growth, risk, regulation, workforce management, technology, and geopolitical uncertainty. Those converging issues increasingly demand advice that crosses traditional practice and geographic boundaries and accounts for their broader business implications.

“Clients do not experience their most important challenges through the lens of a single practice or jurisdiction, and neither can we,” Mr. McManus said. “The breadth and depth of our elite platform uniquely positions us to service our clients globally across legal disciplines. Our responsibility is to bring the right people together with speed, coordination, and accountability, while maintaining the deep relationships and collaborative culture that define Morgan Lewis.”