Howrey's Bob Ruyak Again Named “Visionary” By Legal Times

Howrey is honored to announce that its Chairman and CEO, Robert Ruyak, has been named a “Visionary” by Legal Times for the second consecutive year.  Cecilia Gonzalez, Vice Chair of the firm, and one of the firm’s founders Harold Baker were also named “Pioneers” posthumously.

“Visionaries are those lawyers whose business or legal acumen has been key to expanding their firms”, Legal Times wrote. As Chairman of Howrey, Bob Ruyak has done just that. Howrey has expanded under his direction to a total of 10 US offices, 6 European offices, and 1 office in Asia. Most recently, Mr. Ruyak introduced an innovative approach to associate compensation that other law firms have since adopted.

According to Legal Times, “in 2007, managing partner Robert Ruyak announced that Howrey would end lockstep promotions in favor of a merit-based approach, and the firm's associates blanched. But when economic pressures began forcing many firms to hand out pink slips, ending lockstep became far more attractive. Howrey implemented its new system in January this year. By all measures, including a 20% increase in gross revenue, 2008 was a banner year for the firm. And with major laterals, including a 40-lawyer construction litigation group from now-defunct Thelen, the firm seems ready to handle 2009. But it was the decision to work through associate concerns to shape merit-based compensation that was Ruyak's standout move last year. Other firms hurried to play catch-up in tweaking associate pay. ‘We're hoping other firms will follow because our whole industry needs to change,’ Ruyak said.”

Aside from his role as Chairman and CEO, Bob Ruyak is an experienced and well-respected litigator whose legal career encompasses matters involving computer hardware, software, semiconductors, telecommunications, medical devices, chemicals, food, steel, paper, transportation, heavy equipment and automobiles, among others. He specializes in managing and trying complex cases, representing plaintiffs as well as defendants.

Mr. Ruyak also is also tapped frequently to speak at conferences and seminars addressing the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, jury trial strategy and tactics, and the use of technology in litigation, and law firm management. 

Bob Ruyak serves on several boards in the Washington DC area and is currently Chairman of the Board of Visitors at Georgetown University Law Center.                                           

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Founded in 1956, Howrey LLP is a global law firm with over 750 attorneys and more than 50 economic, financial, and regulatory consultants. Howrey has offices in Washington, D.C; Northern Virginia; Houston, Texas; New York, New York; Los Angeles, Irvine, East Palo Alto and San Francisco, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Illinois; London, England; Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Munich, Germany; Madrid, Spain and Taipei, Taiwan. Howrey's affiliate, The CapAnalysis Group, LLC (economic, financial, and litigation consultants) teams with Howrey attorneys as a strategic business resource.  A consistent American Lawyer “A-List” and PLC “Which Lawyer?” Global 50 firm, Howrey is one of the most frequently used law firms by the world’s leading companies. Howrey’s Intellectual Property practice was ranked as a top national IP practice by IP Law & Business and its Antitrust Practice topped Global Competition Review’s GCR 100.  As the winner of the 2003 Thomas L. Sager Award from the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Howrey is committed to the ideals of diversity and is equally committed to the tenets of pro bono and public service. Howrey's "Advantage of Focus" makes it the clear choice for antitrust, intellectual property and complex business dispute resolution.  For more information, visit our website: http://www.howrey.com.