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May 19, 2026
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Regarded professional services executive joins the AmLaw 200 firm’s leadership team to drive advancement of strategy and operational excellence
National AmLaw 200 firm Michael Best is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Mayer as Chief Operating Officer. As a member of the firm’s leadership team, Mayer will partner with the firm’s Managing Partner, Management Committee, and practice group leaders to advance strategic priorities, strengthen operational excellence, and help position Michael Best for continued growth and client success.
“Jeff’s unique combination of operational leadership, strategic vision, and technology-enabled transformation is a strong asset we are excited to add to our firm’s capacity,” said David Krutz, Michael Best’s Firm Managing Partner. “As our firm continues to evolve in our efforts to lead the market in client responsiveness and value, his perspective and leadership will strengthen how we operate, enhance delivery of client services, and drive our firm’s continued growth.”
Mayer brings more than 25 years of leadership and transformative, client-facing, and in-house business experience across global professional services organizations of varying size, scale, and stage of growth. He held senior chief operating officer and strategic leadership roles at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), the leading multi-national professional services and real estate services firm, where he led global business functions, operational execution, and technology-enabled transformation initiatives. Prior to JLL, Mayer held leadership and management consulting roles at Deloitte Consulting, Ciber, and XO Communications, where he advised organizations on large-scale transformation, operating model design, and performance improvement.
“As the legal industry continues to evolve, Michael Best is well-positioned to build on its strong foundation of client service and relationships,” said Mayer. “I look forward to working with firm leadership to deliver on the firm’s strategic goals and enhance operational effectiveness across the organization.”
Mayer’s operational experience includes leading teams across six continents, while serving many of the world’s largest institutional investors and lenders. He has driven transformation initiatives spanning technology implementation, data strategy, operating model redesign, and shared services development. With a focus on innovation, he champions advancing AI-enabled tools and analytics to deliver both operational efficiency and build new client solutions.
Mayer joins the firm following a national search committed to identifying a leader to help guide Michael Best through the next phase of its 175+ year history, while remaining grounded in the firm’s longstanding commitment to exceptional client service and personal relationships.
