L-R: Jeffrey J. Conn, John J. Hern Jr. and John P. Hensien of Clark Hill.

After two substantial combinations in recent years, Clark Hill has appointed its first new CEO in nearly two decades, in a restructuring of the Am Law 200 firm's leadership.

John Hensien, current co-chair of Clark Hill's automotive and manufacturing practice, will become the Detroit-based firm's chief executive officer in January 2021 after a yearlong transition period, the firm announced Wednesday. Current CEO John Hern, who assumed the leadership position in 2002, and Pittsburgh-based executive committee member Jeffrey Conn will become firm co-chairs, a new position. Conn served as managing partner of Thorp Reed & Armstrong prior to the Pittsburgh firm's 2013 merger with Clark Hill.

In an interview, Hern, who is based in the firm's Detroit office, explained that the leadership transition and creation of the co-chair position came at a good time for the 580-lawyer firm, which completed two combinations in the last three years: it absorbed 100-attorney Calfornia firm Morris Polich & Purdy in 2017 and merged with Texas firm 200-lawyer Strasburger & Price a year later.

"Combinations take years—the pre-closing phase takes well over a year, and the post-integration phase also takes substantial time," he said. "We have been very involved in integrating all three firms and turning them into one firm, and we believe we have made substantial progress. Before we undertake the next big initiative and develop our vision and strategy for the future, this appears to be a good time to allow a transition in firm leadership."

Succession discussions at the firm also led to the creation of the new co-chair positions. Hern explained that as the firm has grown in recent years, it was necessary to restructure leadership roles.

"The co-chair roles were created in an effort to serve the firm and the new CEO in the transition," he said. "The responsibilities of running the firm has evolved. Our firm's view is that the co-chair roles will help us be more efficient and more effective going forward, given our size."

Hern said the firm began to explore a leadership transition last spring, and after months of vetting possible leaders, Hensien, who has spent his entire career at Clark Hill, emerged as the clear choice. The 12-member executive committee voted unanimously to appoint him in September.

"There were a number of qualities we wanted, including a client-first mindset, a servant-leader mindset, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, good old-fashioned common sense, and someone who was accepted and embraced by the partnership, throughout the firm and among clients," he said. "As we evaluated the choices we had, John continually came back as the right candidate for the firm."

During the year, Hern said the pace of transition will depend on the needs of Hensien's current clients. Hensien, who is also a member of the firm's corporate practice group, has an international mergers and acquisitions practice that has developed over 25 years.

"John has an active practice, and we want to ensure with a great deal of care and concern that the clients he has served are in good hands and are more than satisfied as this transition progresses," he said.

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