Chris Balch, who started his career at Holland & Hart as a summer clerk in 1997, has been elected chair of the Am Law 200 firm as of Jan. 1, 2020, and in that role will implement a new strategic plan.

Balch said the plan is "heavily rooted" in investing in technology and process efficiencies, as well as implementing innovative service models, such as employing nonlawyers to provide service to clients. One example is using patent agents for intellectual property work, he said.

Balch said the plan, which will be rolled out incrementally, positions the 455-lawyer, Denver-based firm for the future.

"We actually spent the last 10 months taking a deep dive into our firm and its business model and decided at this point we are at a very exciting time," he said. "We are in great regional markets with a strong brand and a good reputation."

Balch, who has served on the firm's executive committee since January, said he ran unopposed for the chair position. The mergers and acquisitions and finance lawyer was elected to a four-year term and succeeds Liz Sharrer, a real estate partner in Denver who has been chair for the last six years.

The firm recently changed the term length for executive committee members, including the chair, from three to four years.

Holland & Hart has 15 offices in Colorado, Alaska, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Washington, D.C.

Chris Balch, incoming chair of Holland & Hart.

Balch said the regional network strategy the firm put into place more than 30 years ago remains effective today to accomplish the firm's goals. But, he said, the firm will be opportunistic, "whether that's bolting on another firm or another practice group."

Holland & Hart, which touts its energy and natural resources, IP and technology practices, is not targeting any particular new markets, but it continues to look at Texas.

"It is attractive in many ways, specifically with respect to the energy and natural resources industries and the clients we serve," Balch said, acknowledging that the Texas market is very competitive.

In 2018, Holland & Hart posted declines in revenue, profits and head count as it lost 16 partners. But in an interview earlier this year, Sharrer said the firm viewed 2018 as a good year, in part because revenue per lawyer increased and the firm's patent, energy and M&A practices were very busy.

In an interview Monday, Sharrer said an earlier phase of the strategic planning started in the spring of 2018, and the firm has, in fact, evaluated many aspects of its operations over the last few years. She said one change during her tenure relates to the life cycle of lawyers throughout their time at the firm, creating great places at the firm for lawyers who are still building a book of business as well as for partners nearing retirement.

Except for two years as an assistant general counsel at a software company, Balch has practiced at Holland & Hart his entire career. He previously served on the management committee from 2009 to 2011.

Sharrer said she is excited about Balch moving into the chair role because of his strong business sense, a commitment to client service and a deep appreciation for the firm's culture and history.

It's a generational shift in firm leadership, she said.

"I'm a Baby Boomer. He's a Gen X, I think," Sharrer said. "You have to find the right person. Chris is wise beyond his years, because he's worked in leadership roles for so long."

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