When David Braswell took up his position as managing partner of St. Louis-founded Armstrong Teasdale in 2019, he launched an unprecedented era of growth for the Am Law 200 firm. But many stakeholders were not pleased with the firm's exponential expansion, nor with its potential implications for the firm's future.

As managing partner, Braswell launched locations in London, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, New Jersey and Salt Lake City, Utah; after becoming chairman in 2021, he played a role in opening offices in Dublin, Miami and Chicago.