Deborah Hays, incoming chair of Archer.

Archer is preparing for a change at the head of its board of directors for the first time in 17 years, after appointing its first woman chair.

Deborah Hays is set to begin a five-year term as chair of the board, effective Oct. 1, the 200-lawyer regional firm announced Monday. She will take the place of James Carll, who has led the board for 17 years.

Hays was recommended to the board by the firm's executive committee—made up of chief operating officer Stacey Sinclair and president Christopher Gibson, along with Carll. In another change announced Monday, the executive committee will now be referred to as “office of the president,” and will expand to include Carll, as past chair, and partner Marc Rollo, who serves as business development committee chair.

Hays has already served on the board of directors for five years, and she has spent her entire career at Archer. In her practice, she focuses on business financing, securities offerings and compliance, director advisory services, mergers and acquisitions, and technology transfer and licensing.

She said she is humbled to be selected as the new chair. With regard to being the first woman chair, she said, “It provides me with an opportunity to represent a large segment of our firm—our female and diverse attorneys.”

In a statement Monday, Gibson noted that between Sinclair and now Hayes, two-thirds of Archer's senior leadership—chair, president and COO—is made up of women lawyers.

“We believe this again shows that we are strongly committed to diversity and no limits are placed on what our attorneys can achieve,” he said.

Hays noted that she continued to advance her career as she raised her children, and now as she cares for parents in her family.

“I want to provide the same kind of opportunities I've had for our younger attorneys,” she said. “I'm committed to making sure our culture and our inclusive environment continues and that our profile and makeup reflects the business community at large.”

Looking toward the future, Hays said New Jersey-based Archer is currently developing a strategic plan, which will likely include continued growth and geographic expansion. She said the firm will continue to grow in Central and Western Pennsylvania, as well as other locations.

“No one wants to be joining a firm that's stagnant and complacent,” she said. “Archer has not been that way for the past 10 years, and under my leadership I don't see us changing from that course.”

That may include opening in new locations, Hays said, but the firm would only do so if it has existing clients in those locations. Mergers ”are always on the table,” but becoming a 500-person firm is unlikely, she noted. Any potential combination would likely be in line with historical additions, which maxed out at a merger with a 32-lawyer firm, as the firm seeks to maintain its culture.

“We're always looking for partnerships or strategic fits to augment our current capabilities,” Hays said. “Right now, we don't need to merge with someone because we're having difficulties or administrative issues we need someone else to solve.”

In addition, Hays said, the strategic planning will involve discussion of “innovation in client services.” That certainly includes alternative fee arrangements, but may also touch on succession planning, technology and partnering with non-law-firm entities, she said.

The firm will also have to predict what the hottest practices will be in the next decade, she noted, where “we need to be in a position to be alert to and respond accordingly.” That's where revenue growth will come from, she said.

In terms of her own practice, Hays said she will have to pass some work onto other attorneys. However, she noted, because Sinclair, as COO, has taken on administrative responsibilities full-time, the chair and president of the firm are able to stay involved in the practice of law.

“I would not have any intention at this point to cut myself off from those [client] relationships,” Hays said.

Outgoing chair Carll said in a statement Monday that Hays will be “a tremendous asset” to the firm.

“It has been an honor to serve Archer during a period of growth, as we have more than doubled in size over my tenure,” he said. “I'm also proud to see Debbie, with whom I have worked closely for many years, follow me as chair.”

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