Troutman Sanders LLP announced today that Bob Webb Jr., who has served as Chairman of the firm since 2006, and prior to that as Managing Partner for 18 years, will retire December 31. Steve Lewis, who has served as Managing Partner since 2011, will lead the firm and assume the strategic responsibilities that Webb oversaw as Chairman. 

“Bob built the modern version of the firm,” said Lewis. “During his tenure at Troutman Sanders, Bob expanded not only the firm’s geographic footprint, but also the scope of the firm’s practice. His focus was always on growing the firm in a manner consistent with the needs of our clients and delivering excellent client service.” 

Webb, 65, joined the firm as an associate in 1975 and became a partner six years later in 1981. In 1993, he took over the daily management and strategic vision of Troutman Sanders from former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders. When Sanders became the firm’s Chairman Emeritus in 2006, Webb took on the additional title, serving as Chairman and Managing Partner until 2011. That year, Lewis became Managing Partner of the firm. 

“Steve has done an extraordinary job as Managing Partner, and the impact of his leadership is reflected in the strength of the firm today,” said Bob Webb, Chairman of Troutman Sanders. “He has the background and vision to lead Troutman Sanders into the next chapter. Having worked side by side with Steve, I know that Troutman Sanders is in great hands.” 

During Webb’s tenure as the firm’s Managing Partner and then as Chairman, Troutman Sanders grew from 165 lawyers in one office to an international law firm with more than 650 lawyers and offices located in Atlanta, Beijing, Charlotte, Chicago, Hong Kong, New York, Orange County, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, San Diego, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tysons Corner, Virginia Beach, and Washington, D.C. Beyond his management responsibilities, Webb was a member of the firm’s litigation practice for 39 years and had extensive trial experience in major, complex multi-district litigation, with a particular emphasis in the cable television, entertainment and sports industries. In that capacity, he served as lead litigation counsel for the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks, Cable News Network (CNN), Turner Network Television (TNT), Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), and numerous other sports, television, and entertainment companies. 

In addition to Webb’s legal practice and firm duties, he participated actively in numerous civic and community affairs organizations. Among other activities, he served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. He served as chair for the 2013 Zoo Atlanta Beastly Feast and was chair of the 2011 Atlanta Heart Walk. He twice served as a member of the Lead Gifts Committee for the Woodruff Arts Foundation and was active with the United Way, including serving as chair of its Legal Division. He also is an alumnus of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Atlanta. 

A native of Georgia, Bob graduated from the University of Virginia and received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. 

As Webb retires, Troutman Sanders leadership succession plan places 49-year-old Managing Partner Steve Lewis at the helm of the firm. 

Joining Troutman Sanders as an associate in 1991, Lewis was named partner in 1999 and elected to the firm’s executive committee in 2003. His background in accounting and finance provided a strong foundation for his corporate practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and general business matters. Lewis led the firm’s corporate section beginning in 2006, before being named Managing Partner in 2011. He is the second partner in the firm’s history to serve in that role. Lewis has received numerous legal honors, including Georgia Trendmagazine’s Legal Elite in corporate law and recognition in Law and Politics for merger and acquisition law excellence. 

He is an active member in the Atlanta community serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Georgia, and the Board of Trustees of Leadership Atlanta. He previously served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Leadership Atlanta, as a member of the Board of Visitors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta YMCA. 

A North Carolina native, Lewis studied business administration, with a concentration in accounting, at the University of North Carolina before earning his law degree there.