Mary Wilson, '92: Named New US Managing Partner at Dentons
Dentons Taps Chicago Finance Lawyer as New US Managing Partner
Chicago-based finance partner Mary Wilson has become Dentons’ first female U.S. managing partner, filling a position that had been vacant since 2017.
Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, announced Monday that Wilson, who joined the firm as a lateral partner 14 years ago, would be stepping into the role vacated when Washington, D.C.-based Mike McNamara became U.S. CEO.
McNamara, as U.S. CEO, will continue his leadership of the firm’s strategic and administrative operations in the country, in a role that connects to the firm’s global platform. As U.S. managing partner, Wilson will focus on supporting practice leaders and enhancing their ability to deliver client service.
“She knows the firm exceptionally well and is an enthusiastic, exceptionally passionate lawyer and leader, and these are all traits I knew we wanted and needed in our next managing partner,” McNamara said.
Wilson comes into her new role at a moment when Dentons has indicated it is looking to expand its operations in the U.S. While the firm has a presence in nine of the country’s 10 largest metropolitan areas (Philadelphia being the exception), its global management committee is in agreement that the U.S. is the No. 1 target for expansion.
Dentons has 1,100 lawyers in the U.S., spread across 25 offices, and Wilson intends to focus her leadership time on supporting practice leaders as they advance client service priorities, practice plans, diversity and inclusion initiatives. She will also be directing the introduction of new tools and resources to support clients. Her tenure is open ended.
Wilson joined Dentons as a health care partner in 2005 from Gardner Carton & Douglas, shortly before the Chicago firm merged with Philadelphia’s Drinker Biddle & Reath. Since then she’s served in a number of leadership roles, including as Chicago managing partner for five years and as co-chair of the associates development committee. She is also an active member of the firm’s U.S. board.
Read more at The American Lawyer