Biglaw

Biglaw Partner Fired For 'Inappropriate Personal Conduct'

Mayer Brown takes a clear stand: some things are more important than a partner's book of business.

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Zac Barnett

I don’t want to go around getting all optimistic, but is it possible that things are really changing in Biglaw? It seems elite law firm have pretty much decided that inappropriate conduct is a nonstarter for their employees — and that includes high-profile parters.

Last night, an email was sent to all attorneys at Mayer Brown by Chairman Paul Theiss, informing them that Chicago-based partner Zac Barnett had been terminated from the firm. The email revealed Barnett was fired for “inappropriate personal conduct with a subordinate,” noting that such behavior was “contrary to Mayer Brown’s core values.” Theiss also said additional details would not be forthcoming to protect the privacy of a third party.

In 2015, Barnett was named leader of the firm’s global Fund Finance practice, where he managed a team of six partners and 17 associates and counsel. At the time, partner and co-leader of Mayer Brown’s global Banking & Finance practice Doug Doetsch said, “Zac’s new title is a reflection of the leadership role that he has already been fulfilling for several years, and he has earned the trust of his colleagues.” All references to Barnett have since been removed from Mayer Brown’s website.

While the exact nature of what Barnett did may not be public, it is good to see Mayer Brown take such a strong stance against inappropriate conduct. The era when a partner’s book of business was the only thing that mattered to a firm may be over, and stances like the one Mayer Brown took do more to prove that point that a million flowery words on the subject.

When asked for comment, a representative of the firm sent Above the Law the following statement, which largely repeats the language of Theiss’s earlier email:

Zac Barnett is being terminated by Mayer Brown. His termination is due to his inappropriate personal conduct with a subordinate; the conduct was unrelated to client matters and is contrary to the firm’s core values. To respect the privacy of a third party, we are not providing additional details.

Check out our coverage of other firms that parted ways with partners over their behavior:

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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