Squire Patton Boggs is pleased to announce that Michele L. Connell will serve as the next Global Managing Partner of the firm’s US LLP, which consists of 34 of the firm’s 45 international offices.
She will succeed Fred Nance who served in the same role since 2016 and who will remain part of the firm’s Executive Leadership Group, leading Squire’s newly created “Office of DEI” (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion).
“Throughout Michele’s career, she has proven to be the embodiment of so many of the qualities that we hold up as important within our firm,” said Chair and Global CEO Mark Ruehlmann. “Her leadership, judgment, global perspective, and commitment to the service of our clients and communities make her a unique fit for this role.”
Ruehlmann continued, “It is with the deepest sense of respect and gratitude that I thank Fred for his steadfast leadership as Global Managing Partner during a period of both exciting growth for our firm and challenge in the world. Fred’s appointment will assure that the DEI function has a seat at the table at the highest level of our firm and remains embedded in our culture and operations.”
Ms. Connell has served as managing partner of the firm’s Cleveland office and is a recognized expert and strategic advisor to its corporate clients. Her legal practice focuses on international mergers and acquisitions, with deep expertise in key geographies such as China and Brazil. She also advises public and private companies and their boards of directors on shareholder activism, corporate governance practices, and securities compliance matters. Ms. Connell began her career as a diplomat for the US Department of State, where she advanced the mission of the US Government while serving in the US Embassies in Poland and Honduras.
She serves on the boards of directors of several non-profit organizations and focuses her efforts on advancing women in the legal profession, including through her involvement with DirectWomen, an organization dedicated to increasing the representation of women attorneys on corporate boards. She led the firm’s Advancing Women’s Taskforce since 2019, which was established to study and make recommendations to firm-wide leadership on the advancement and retention of women lawyers.
“Squire Patton Boggs has been at the forefront of the legal profession – strategically executing a vision of international growth and niche expertise over the years. I could not be prouder of the global firm we have built and the direction we are heading,” Ms. Connell said.
Mr. Nance said, “I would like to congratulate Michele on this appointment. Having worked closely with her over the years, I know that she is exceptionally well suited for this important leadership role. I also look forward to working with her and our colleagues from across our global platform in prioritizing and evolving our diversity focus, which is central to both our culture and our client value proposition.”
Ms. Connell’s appointment is effective on January 1, 2022 and, for transition purposes, she and Mr. Nance will serve as co-Global Managing Partners throughout 2022.