Ralph H. Baxter

Chairman & CEO

Known widely as a visionary leader, Baxter has continued his efforts to challenge the status quo in law firm management. Under his leadership, Orrick ushered in a new staffing model last summer, abandoning lockstep associate compensation and advancement. He has also encouraged the firm to embrace alternative fee arrangements more broadly. Notably, the firm struck an agreement last year with San Francisco-based client Levi Strauss & Co. to handle all of its corporate matters for a set monthly fee.

This year Baxter announced his firm's plans to stop reporting its profits per partner publicly. Instead, an Orrick committee is developing new metrics for measuring the firm's success and health. For all his innovations, Baxter says he's most proud of having navigated his firm through the economic crisis, a feat that has required him to reconcile human issues and strategic plans with financial realities while balancing short-term and long-term goals.