Kelley Drye Will Adopt New Leadership Structure in 2027
The New York City-based firm will appoint a new chair and co-managing partners beginning January 1, 2027.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in People
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Kelley Drye & Warren LLP will implement an expanded leadership structure on January 1, 2027, aimed at supporting the firm's growth and strategic priorities. Michael Lynch will take over as Chair, while Bill Jackson and David Zalman will step into the newly created roles of Co-Managing Partners.
Why it matters
The transition to a co-managing partner model is designed to increase the firm's leadership capacity while ensuring that partners remain actively connected to their clients. This change aims to sustain the growth momentum seen in recent years as the firm moves into its next phase of operations.
The firm reported a 12% year-over-year revenue increase in 2025 across its 9 offices and 340 professionals. Bill Jackson, one of the incoming partners, previously secured over $5 billion in recoveries for various state-level legal matters.
The players
Michael Lynch
He will become the Chair of the law firm starting in January 2027.
Bill Jackson
He is an incoming Co-Managing Partner who has successfully recovered billions of dollars for states in litigation.
David Zalman
He will assume the role of Co-Managing Partner to help lead the firm's strategic growth.
Paul Rosenthal
He is the outgoing Chair of the firm who has completed a four-year term.
Dana Rosenfeld
She has been the firm's Managing Partner since 2020 and will transition to a Senior Advisor role.
The details
The current chair, Paul Rosenthal, will conclude his four-year term on December 31, 2026, while outgoing Managing Partner Dana Rosenfeld will transition to the role of Senior Advisor. The new structure allows the firm to maintain high-level management oversight without requiring leaders to step back from their active legal practices.
Timeline
Dana Rosenfeld has served as Managing Partner since January 2020.
The firm reported record revenue in 2025.
Paul Rosenthal's term as Chair will conclude on December 31, 2026.
The new leadership structure will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Market Landscape
This leadership transition follows a broader industry trend where law firms adopt co-managing partner structures to better manage complexity while keeping leadership focused on client work. By dividing management responsibilities, the firm seeks to maintain the growth momentum established after a successful 2025 fiscal year.
Clients of the firm should see continuity in their legal representation because the new leadership structure specifically allows managing partners to maintain their active practices. This ensures that the firm's key attorneys remain engaged with client projects despite their increased administrative responsibilities.
The takeaway
The move to a co-managing partner model highlights the ongoing need for large firms to balance business growth with the active involvement of lead attorneys. Firms often find that keeping leaders connected to client cases provides better continuity during executive transitions.
Further reading
For more context on professional shifts, visit the People section.
More information
For official firm updates and leadership bios, visit the Kelley Drye official firm website.
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