Honigman LLP Appointed New Chief Information Officer
The law firm selected Joel Gustafson to lead its technology operations after the retirement of a 17-year veteran.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in People
Honigman LLP has named Joel Gustafson as its new Chief Information Officer. He replaces long-time executive Craig Hardtke, who retired after serving 17 years at the firm.
Why it matters
The appointment brings new leadership to the firm's internal technology organizations and cloud support operations. Gustafson aims to utilize his extensive background in global procurement to manage the firm's IT infrastructure.
Honigman LLP currently employs more than 400 attorneys. The new CIO brings experience from previous roles managing organizations that ranged in size from 2,000 to more than 50,000 members.
The players
Joel Gustafson
He is the newly appointed Chief Information Officer at Honigman LLP with over 25 years of global IT leadership experience.
Craig Hardtke
He is the former Chief Information Officer at Honigman LLP who retired following a 17-year tenure at the law firm.
Honigman LLP
It is a prominent law firm based in Michigan that employs more than 400 attorneys across several international offices.
The details
Gustafson manages internal technology organizations, cloud environments, and support operations for the firm. His background includes executive roles at major firms including Sidley Austin, Mayer Brown, and Crowell & Moring.
Timeline
The appointment of Joel Gustafson was announced on October 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
This leadership transition aligns with the broader industry trend of law firms hiring veteran executives to modernize internal IT infrastructure and cloud systems. The move helps position the firm to remain competitive in secure, tech-driven legal services.
The transition to a new CIO ensures continued operational support for the firm's cloud systems and internal technology. Clients interacting with the firm will benefit from the potential improvements in support operations and technology-driven service delivery.
The takeaway
The appointment of an experienced technology leader signals the firm's focus on maintaining secure and efficient digital operations. Future growth at the firm will likely be supported by the new executive's emphasis on procurement and infrastructure management.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership changes, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Globallegalchronicle.
