BCLP Introduces New Global Leaders, Including Chief Transformation Officer

International law firm BCLP today announced the completion of an ambitious strategic review with the official launch of “Project Advance,” the firm’s new program of business transformation.

The months-long review, which BCLP commenced in the fall of 2019, identified a more focused platform for executing the firm’s international growth plans. Project Advance will build scale around existing core areas of practice strength, while transforming the firm’s operational infrastructure to help drive growth and client experience in the coming years.

Building on the success of its “One Firm” financially integrated model, BCLP has adopted a more agile structure to accelerate Project Advance. Among its initial moves, BCLP has established a new Transformation Office where Corporate Partner Sean Odendahl will serve as the firm’s first-ever Chief Transformation Officer. In this role, Odendahl will lead reorganization and growth efforts in execution of Project Advance. 

As part of its more focused platform, BCLP has combined its Corporate and Finance Practices, and appointed leaders for the firm’s three new primary global business departments:

• Chris de Pury, Global Department Leader, Real Estate
• Stephanie Hosler, Global Department Leader, Corporate and Finance Transactions
• Lee Marshall, Global Department Leader, Litigation and Investigations

BCLP Co-Chairs Lisa Mayhew and Steve Baumer commented:

“Project Advance will further transform and elevate how we serve our clients, laying the foundation for our next phase of growth internationally. This is a multiyear strategy to further extend BCLP’s leadership around Real Estate as an asset class, Corporate and Finance Transactions, and Litigation and Investigations, where we see significant growth opportunities for BCLP. 

We have never been more energized and excited about the future of BCLP as we continue to build momentum for the long term around what we view as our core engines for growth.”

BCLP recently welcomed Partner Jean-Claude “J.C.” André to its Los Angeles office to co-lead the firm’s Appellate & Supreme Court Group. A high-profile litigator, André has personally briefed or argued hundreds of distinct appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, various U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, the California Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal.

At the same time, the firm has expanded its market-leading Real Estate Practice in Europe with the addition of a seven-lawyer group in Paris, led by renowned Partner Pierre Popesco. The group focuses on complex and structured large-scale deals, including the creation of funds and joint ventures, acquisitions and disposals of real estate portfolios, restructuring and financing.

The addition of Popesco and his team marks BCLP as a major player in the French real estate market with 30 lawyers, including seven Partners. 

Firm Restores Pay, Ends Firmwide Salary Reductions

BCLP also announced it will restore lawyer and business services staff salaries to their full 2020 levels from October, three months earlier than planned, as the firm continues to outperform projections originally set during the height of the pandemic. In August, the firm began easing initial salary reductions that had begun in May in response to COVID-19, which were planned to conclude at year-end.