As a seasoned entrepreneur and executive, Paul Eberle came to Husch Blackwell and was appointed the firm’s chief executive, serving as the only leader of an Am Law 100 firm who was not a lawyer by training.
Husch Blackwell, a legal firm, strives to operate as more of a partner than a provider of legal services. The counsel is based on deep knowledge of each client’s industry and the focus is always on using strengths to find the best way to help move their businesses forward.
As CEO, Eberle has been instrumental in investing in the people of the firm. Husch Blackwell increased hiring in Wisconsin from Marquette and UW Law Schools and continues to embrace technology to improve efficiency and allow human capital to focus on the really challenging problems.
Eberle said that change can be challenging and even generate fear for the people involved. “We try to remove the fear, encourage new approaches and give our people the space to experiment and sometimes fail,” he said. “That freedom helps us innovate faster, invest more boldly and develop problem-solvers that deliver results today and are ready to solve the problems of tomorrow.”
According to his staff, Eberle has solidified his reputation as one of the most accomplished business leaders in BigLaw today by guiding Husch Blackwell through a period of dramatic instability, starting his career in firm leadership in 2009 at the height of the Global Financial Crisis and finishing in 2024 after an unprecedented period of economic volatility, social unrest and public health crises accompanying the pandemic. All the while, he was crucial in delivering increasing revenue, growth, profitability and client satisfaction.
The firm was honored as a market outperformer for its double-digit jump in the Am Law 100 2023 rankings and its record 16.6 percent organic revenue growth. “The firm’s most successful and unique initiatives would not be possible without the foresight to make considerable investment in technology, training and wellness,” said his staff. “Under Paul’s leadership, Husch Blackwell invested $9 million in cloud-related resources and services in 2022, enhancing employee connectivity, productivity and retention.”
It’s Eberle’s understanding that attorneys and professional staff can be productive outside of office walls has resulted in a unique offering that has helped expand the firm to all areas of the country, said his colleagues.
“With a strong belief that careful listening is an important part of leadership, Paul prioritizes hearing the ideas and views of the firm’s attorneys, who in turn know the importance of listening to clients to better understand their problems and perspectives and help them succeed,” said his staff.
For his willingness to embrace unique approaches and lead with compassion, Eberle has been named a titan.
