(L to R) Lauren L. Lynch, Cheryl H. Burstein and Clelia Pergola Mandelbaum Salsburg in New Jersey (Photo: Courtesy Photo)

**This story has been updated to correct information regarding Burstein and Lynch.

Mandelbaum Salsburg has remade its management unit in 2019, with three newly created executive positions this year—chief operating officer, chief marketing officer and chief strategy officer—filled with existing firm professionals and a new hire.

Also this year, the firm added a new chief technology officer/chief information officer.

“The label of choice today is to describe such a team of professionals as your 'C-suite of officers,'” said William Barrett, CEO of Mandelbaum Salsburg, based in Roseland.

“Whatever description you want to give them, I can tell you that their hard work and talent has been invaluable to our law firm's continued success and growth, and the efficiencies and skill sets they have brought to the table have not only covered their cost but have made the law firm more productive and profitable and have allowed me to run the law firm in a manner that has allowed our attorneys to maximize their opportunities and productivity,” he said.

The most recent addition, in April, was Clelia Pergola, hired as chief strategy officer. In that role, she seeks to leverage relationships within the community and create processes within Mandelbaum Salsburg to yield exceptional client experiences. According to the firm, Pergola is a leading voice in the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, where she serves a prominent role in the Women In Business Program. She is a member of the Healthcare Association of New Jersey and a founding member of WomenCare and Women Rising, and co-author of “The Law Firm Revolution.” Pergola previously was COO of the New Jersey Elder Law Center.

The COO, Cheryl H. Burstein, and CMO, Lauren L. Lynch, took those positions in January.

Burstein, an attorney, has been with the firm for 17 years and is a member of the firm's executive committee. She is a partner, handling construction litigation and arbitration, and complex commercial litigation, including business disputes and trust and estate litigation.

Burstein is former mayor of Millburn Township and is now finishing her first three-year term as a township committeewoman.

Lynch joined the firm in 2016 and become CMO in January. She has more than 15 years of experience providing strategic marketing and communications advice, writing and editing copy, engaging in results-driven creative thinking, analyzing market research, creating unique graphic design projects and planning events for professional service law firms, according to the firm. In 2015, an ad Lynch designed was awarded the “Best Company Black & White ad” by the Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association” at their annual “Awards of Excellence” dinner.

(The firm has a fourth woman in the C-suite. Tanya Babalievska was named controller in 2009 after having risen through the ranks, from her original position in 2001 as an assistant in the bookkeeping department.)

Also, in February, Tom Brennan was named chief technology officer/chief information officer. Brennan guides the firm in its cybersecurity efforts and on critical infrastructure and has two decades of experience building, breaking and defending data for clients worldwide, the firm said. He founded the New Jersey chapter of the Open Web Application Security Project and was the New York City chapter president for 13 years.

“We are particularly blessed to have brought on a talented, experienced, diverse group of truly outstanding managerial professionals that have seamlessly woven themselves into the fabric and culture of our firm, and in a short time, have already made a profound positive impact on our success,” Barrett said.

He said the additions were part of the firm's commitment to hiring top talent, while maintaining a work-life balance.

“We have always believed that, if you can offer attorneys an enjoyable place to work with a culture that encourages a [work-life] balance and autonomy, you will attract top talent and like-minded people that help to foster our 'family business' style culture and mindset.”

Barrett added that, as the firm grows, “you must build out the nonlawyer professional staff and infrastructure to support your success and continue the path forward to remain viable and better serve your clients.”

Barrett said the executive hires also give him the opportunity to step back and focus on the CEO role.

“I recognized about three years ago that as a CEO you cannot get too deep into the weeds on every matter and every issue for a couple of reasons,” he said. “First, you are not providing your best value and highest use to the law firm as a CEO if you begin micromanaging the organization, especially in areas where your subject matter knowledge may be limited. Second, with advancements and sophistication you face in larger businesses with technology, marketing, social media, business strategies, human resources and finance, there are far more talented professionals in their fields that can offer superior expertise that continues your organization's positive growth.

“When you make such a move in a law firm, you will inevitably have partners that are concerned about the hiring of non-income-producing, highly compensated professionals and the resulting increase in overhead,” said Barrett. “While it is certainly very fair for partners to have those concerns, in our case, the results quickly eliminated any such fears.”

Barrett said productivity and revenue were up at the firm. “To the contrary, the results have proven to be incredibly beneficial.”