Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston, Ltd., unanimously elected Amy L. Demlow as its managing member, effective March 1, 2019.
Demlow, a corporate attorney in the firm’s Medina office, becomes the first female managing member in the history of a law firm that traces its roots to the Civil War.
Demlow succeeds Robert C. Gorman, who has managed the firm since 2013. Gorman will return to a full-time corporate and employment law practice, primarily out of CCJ’s Wooster office.
“The firm has thrived under Bob Gorman’s leadership the last six years. I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve Critchfield’s talented team of professionals” said Demlow.
“A year ago I was tasked with creating a plan for smooth succession planning at the firm,” Gorman said. “After doing my homework, the message from my colleagues was clear. We all have a high degree of confidence that Amy’s leadership skills will help propel the firm to even greater success.”
Demlow has been with CCJ since 1996. In addition to chairing the firm’s Board of Directors and setting the pace with strategic leadership, she will maintain a practice that focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, estate planning and general corporate law.
The firm also created the position of Chief Operating Officer and named member James J. Lanham to this post. As COO, Lanham will oversee the firm’s everyday finance, HR and IT functions. Lanham, who has been with the firm since 2008, will also maintain a busy corporate and estate planning practice.
“While analyzing the best way to take care of the firm’s clients, it became clear that we will be best served with the managing member focusing on strategic and attorney development goals as well as her own law practice, and appointing Jim as COO to oversee many of the other duties inherent in running a business with five offices and some 100 employees,” said Gorman.
“Teaming up with Jim in his COO role allows us to maximize our time and effectiveness in the organization,” said Demlow.