Dentons Breaks Tradition: Non-Lawyer Kate Barton to Lead Global Law Firm

In a move that challenges traditional law firm leadership norms, Kate Barton, former EY global vice chair, is set to become the global CEO of Dentons this fall. This appointment marks a significant departure from the usual practice of law firms selecting leaders from within their own ranks.

Dentons, recognized as the world's largest law firm by headcount, operates under a Swiss verein structure, allowing its international branches to function under a shared banner while maintaining separate legal entities. The firm's global presence spans 167 locations across 82 countries, showcasing its extensive reach in the legal industry.

Barton's background is notably different from typical law firm leaders. A Massachusetts native with working-class roots, she obtained her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 1987 and an LLM in tax from Boston University School of Law in 1990. However, her career path diverged from traditional legal practice when she joined EY, one of the "Big Four" accounting firms, as an intern.

Rising through the ranks at EY, Barton eventually led a global workforce of 70,000 people, generating over $11 billion in revenue. Her experience in managing large-scale operations, technology, and client services is seen as a valuable asset by Dentons' current CEO, Elliott Portnoy.

The appointment of external leaders in law firms remains rare, with only a handful of examples in recent years. Tony Angel, who joined DLA Piper as global co-chairman and senior partner from 2011 to 2015, shared insights on the challenges faced by outsiders:

"Law firm leadership historically turned on being well known to and respected by other partners — a 'big hitter' in relation to client work. The issue is that without that credibility you can't be effective, as (law firm) management structures are more diffuse and relatively weaker than in the corporate sector."

Other firms experimenting with non-lawyer leadership include Husch Blackwell, which appointed Jamie Lawless as CEO in February 2024. Husch Blackwell is known for its innovative approach, including a virtual office concept called The Link, where about a quarter of its lawyers work remotely.

The trend of hiring non-lawyer CEOs in law firms began over a decade ago when Pepper Hamilton appointed Scott Green, a Harvard MBA graduate, as its CEO from 2012 to 2015. Green, now president of the University of Idaho, emphasized the importance of relationship-building in law firm leadership:

"Running a law firm is a relationship game. You've got to convince people to come along with you."

As the legal industry continues to evolve, the appointment of leaders like Barton at Dentons may signal a shift towards more diverse management approaches, potentially bridging the gap between traditional legal practice and modern business leadership.