Fish & Richardson has named Kristine McKinney to be its new chief operating officer. McKinney replaces current COO Richard J. Anderson, who served in the role for the past eight years and is stepping away as part of a planned succession.
McKinney has been with Fish since 2016, previously serving as the firm's first chief legal talent and inclusion officer. Under her leadership, the firm has lived its values, naming its most diverse class of principals ever in 2021 and being selected as a Best Law Firm for Women for the fourth consecutive year by Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) in June. As COO, McKinney will oversee business operations of the firm's 14 offices in the U.S., Europe, and China.
Anderson, a former longtime member of Fish's management committee and former head of the firm's patent group, will remain at the firm as a senior principal, focused initially on supporting the COO transition. "Kristine brings tremendous vision and experience to this important role, and I cannot think of a more qualified person to assume this position," said Anderson.
"Kristine has ideal qualities to guide our firm forward as the legal industry continues to evolve," said John C. Adkisson, president and chief executive officer of Fish. "She understands how to improve operational effectiveness in a manner that serves larger strategic goals. Maybe more importantly, she inspires people at all levels of the firm."
Before joining Fish, McKinney held multiple leadership positions at the Am Law 100 law firms Faegre Baker Daniels and Kirkland & Ellis. Among other responsibilities, she managed diversity initiatives at both firms and directed professional development at Faegre. She is a sought-after speaker on organizational effectiveness, change management, leadership, and diversity. McKinney received her M.S. in learning & organizational change from Northwestern University and her B.A. from the University of Minnesota.