Jeff Cody Jeff Cody, incoming U.S. managing partner at Norton Rose Fulbright.

Jeff Cody, a Norton Rose Fulbright partner in Dallas, has been elected to lead the firm's U.S. operations, succeeding partner Daryl Lansdale, who works out of San Antonio and Houston.

Cody, who is currently U.S. chief administrative partner for the firm, moves into his new role as U.S. managing partner and chair of the U.S. management committee Jan. 1. He was elected to a four-year term.

Lansdale was elected in 2016 to lead the firm for four years, but he is stepping down from the leadership role a year early because of his busy practice, a firm spokesman said. Lansdale said in a press release that Cody will provide "outstanding leadership" and he looks forward to supporting him on strategic initiatives.

"Jeff has a passion for our firm, its people and our clients. Our partnership has the utmost confidence in Jeff to provide leadership and vision during a time of change and innovation in the legal profession," Lansdale said.

In an interview Tuesday, Cody said he chose to run for the management role because of his desire to "try to make the partnership better."

Cody, a litigator, represents clients in complex commercial disputes in the health care, financial and information technology businesses. He said he will continue to work with a number of clients, but will devote the bulk of his time to his leadership positions.

As for goals, Cody said he wants the U.S. operations to return to a "real deep focus on client service" and hopes to use technology to support that effort.

He said he is not ruling out expansion into new cities, but he expects the firm to grow in the U.S. largely by way of lateral hiring in areas including M&A, capital markets, litigation and intellectual property.

Cody said "several very qualified candidates" sought the leadership position, but he declined to identify them.

Lansdale, an M&A lawyer, has led the firm's U.S. operations for the last three years, and oversaw Norton Rose's 2017 combination with Chadbourne & Parke.

After the leadership transition, Lansdale will return to his practice full time. He is the lead lawyer representing BDT Capital Partners of Chicago in its deal to buy a majority interest in Texas burger chain Whataburger.

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