Michael Best Names Three New Managing Partners to D.C., Los Angeles, and Green Bay Locations

Michael Best is proud to announce that three partners within the firm are stepping into new leadership roles: Amanda Wait as Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office; Carrie Byrnes as Co-managing Partner of the Los Angeles office; and Michael Yeh as Co-managing Partner of the Green Bay office.  

Wait, current leader of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition group, will succeed David Crass as Managing Partner. Crass will continue as partner and Co-chair of the Agribusiness and Food & Beverage industry group. Crass has served as Managing Partner of the Washington D.C. office since 2020. 

She is a nationally recognized leader in antitrust and competition law, with more than two decades of experience as a federal antitrust enforcer and, in private practice, advising Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and innovative startups on complex merger reviews, government investigations, and high-stakes litigation. Before joining Michael Best, she previously led the antitrust practice at a major international law firm and served as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where she oversaw merger investigations and enforcement actions. 

In Los Angeles, Byrnes will serve as Co-managing Partner alongside Dan Offner, partner and head of the firm’s California Venture Best team. With 20 years of experience—and prior roles as in-house counsel and a human resources leader—Byrnes brings a practical, people centered lens to executive compensation and employee benefits. Within the firm, she has held many leadership roles, including leading the Employee Benefits subgroup, chairing the Women’s Development Group, launching the Parents & Caregivers network, and co-chairing the Access & Engagement Committee. 

Yeh is the new Co-managing Partner in Green Bay alongside Timothy Burkard. Burkard previously served as Managing Partner of the firm’s Manitowoc office and led the firm’s transition and expansion into the Green Bay market.  

Yeh has been with the firm for over eight years and has previously worked on the product and sales side of several large national corporations, bringing a unique blend of in-house business experience to his practice at Michael Best. He advises clients on a wide range of corporate and transactional matters including supply chain, manufacturing, licensing, and SaaS commercial contracting. With a practical, solutions-oriented approach, he helps businesses navigate evolving legal landscapes and resolve complex issues with clarity and confidence.  

“We are excited to appoint Carrie, Michael, and Amanda to these important leadership roles as they each bring a strong practice, demonstrated commitment to client service, and proven leadership capabilities to their respective offices,” said David Krutz, Firm Managing Partner of Michael Best. “These appointments also reflect the firm’s continued focus on thoughtful succession planning, blending experience with the next generation of leaders.”