Miles & Stockbridge announced today that John B. Frisch will step down next year as chairman and chief executive officer of the law firm after 15 years in these leadership roles. Last January Frisch informed the board of directors of his decision, which will become effective when his current term expires at the firm’s next annual meeting in February 2018.

“It has been one of the great privileges of my life to have served Miles & Stockbridge and our clients in this way as part of a remarkable team of colleagues,” said Frisch. “Yet, in all law firms and companies, it is important that the next generation of leaders be given the opportunity to take the reins of the firm and that this shift occur in a smooth and thoughtful way. We have been preparing for this transition for some time.”

While a successor will be chosen at a later date, the firm has been taking a close look at the structure, roles and responsibilities of an optimal senior leadership team, as well as the individuals who would be best suited to fill appropriate roles. During the past six years, Frisch has been working with others at Miles & Stockbridge to identify, engage and promote additional firm leaders and to transition numerous responsibilities to them.

“In planning for this transition, I also have given great thought to my next steps,” said Frisch. “Because I have served as firm chair and CEO in a full-time capacity for nearly 15 years, it will be difficult for me to return to the practice of law. However, in the chairman role, I developed a passion for the development of people and for building inclusive and special workplace cultures. Nothing has given me more satisfaction than helping and watching others grow and the firm to achieve more of its substantial potential.”

Frisch will continue to work at Miles & Stockbridge for approximately two years with a focus on supporting the firm’s efforts to develop its next generation of leaders, to become more diverse and inclusive, and to work with its client advisory board to create a distinctive client experience. Thereafter, he expects to leave the firm to engage in leadership coaching and organizational development work, emphasizing the importance of leading values-based workplace cultures.

“I also remain devoted to Baltimore City,” said Frisch. “While I intend to thoughtfully transition our next generation of leaders into key civic leadership roles, I intend to continue to serve Baltimore as a civic leader and otherwise contribute what I can to help our community make progress in a variety of areas.”

About John B. Frisch
Frisch joined Miles & Stockbridge in 1983 and has served as the law firm’s chairman and chief executive officer since 2003. Under Frisch’s leadership, the firm has been vigorously executing a new vision and strategic plan; championing key recruitment, retention and promotion efforts toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive firm; taking bold steps toward creating an extraordinary client experience to deepen existing relationships and secure new ones; achieving commendable financial performance even during the economic slowdown; expanding its footprint in Greater Washington with a K Street office and key lateral hires; and growing beyond more than 240 lawyers in seven mid-Atlantic offices.

He is chairman of Visit Baltimore, a director of the Downtown Partnership for which he previously served as chairman, a director of the Greater Baltimore Committee and a director of The LEADERship. A graduate of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Frisch serves on its Board of Visitors. Frisch also is a past director of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, B&O Railroad Museum, and Well for the Journey.

About Miles & Stockbridge

Miles & Stockbridge is a leading law firm with offices across Maryland and in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Its lawyers help global, national, local and emerging business clients preserve and create value by helping them solve their most challenging problems. For more information about the firm, visit its website and follow the firm on Twitter.