Biglaw

Global Chair Of Biglaw Firm Taking Temporary Leave Due To Exhaustion

Best wishes to Rawlinson for a speedy recovery.

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Paul Rawlinson

Big news for those that follow the comings and goings in Biglaw management. The Global Chair of Biglaw firm Baker McKenzie, Paul Rawlinson, announced he’s taking temporary medical leave for issues caused by exhaustion. Taking over as Acting Chair is Jaime Trujillo, a partner in Mergers & Acquisitions and the firm’s Latin America Chair.

A spokesperson for the firm provided this statement:

Baker McKenzie Global Chair Paul Rawlinson has announced that he will be stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities and taking temporary leave to focus on a personal medical issue.

Based on the advice of his doctor, in response to medical issues caused by exhaustion, Paul has decided to take a step back from Firm leadership and client responsibilities to make his health and recovery his immediate priority.

In the interim, Baker McKenzie has appointed Jaime Trujillo to serve as the Firm’s Acting Chair. Jaime will work closely with other members of Baker McKenzie’s Executive Committee to continue to guide the Firm forward. Jaime is Baker McKenzie’s Latin American Chair and is an M&A lawyer by background. He joined the Firm in 1985. Everyone at Baker McKenzie sends best wishes to Paul and his family for a quick and full recovery, and we look forward to welcoming him back soon.

Out of respect for Paul and his family, we are unable to provide any additional details at this time.

Rawlinson has had a lot to deal with over the last few months. Baker McKenzie had its own #MeToo scandal when it was revealed the firm responded to an associate’s allegation of sexual assault against a partner by sanctioning, but not firing, the partner in question. The firm recently released a report on its handling of that allegation and the firm admitted to “a number of shortcomings… which we very much regret.”

The firm has also faced reports of sinking morale after a retroactive policy change jacked bonuses for associates, and then they doubled down by blaming associates.

Best wishes to Rawlinson for a speedy recovery.

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headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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