J. StephenPoor

As chair emeritus of Seyfarth, Steve serves as an advisor to the firm's leadership and as an executive sponsor of strategic initiatives focused on innovation and growth. During his tenure as chair, he led the transformation of Seyfarth into an international law firm at the forefront of innovation, and oversaw the growth of the firm from nearly 500 lawyers to more than 850 lawyers around the globe.

Steve began his career with Seyfarth as an employment lawyer, with particular depth in trial work and in ERISA litigation. A member of the firm's Executive Committee since 1998, Steve served as the chair of the Labor & Employment department from 1994 to 1998, as managing partner from 2001 to 2013, and as chair from 2001 to 2016.

In recognition of his innovation work, Steve was named the 2011 Legal Innovator of the Year by the Financial Times, as well as one of Law360's Most Innovative Managing Partners in 2012 (Portfolio Media, Inc). In 2016, Steve received the prestigious Flex Leader Award from the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, which is awarded annually to a general counsel or law firm chair who promotes a more diverse and inclusive workplace through holistic flexibility. He was honored for his demonstrated leadership, dedication and tireless efforts to ensuring that flexibility policies at Seyfarth are a part of the firm's culture.

Steve is a frequent speaker on topics relating to the legal services industry, including law firm management, partner compensation systems, change management in the law firm environment, current and future trends in corporate legal buy, and the application of Lean principles to the practice of law.

"Clients don't hire lawyers to solve legal problems. They hire us to solve business problems rooted in the law. The delivery of legal services must include people with depth in technology, process, and change."