Left to right: Mark Drew, Greg Curran, and Jeff Grantham
The Birmingham law firm of Maynard Cooper & Gale has announced a new chairman and Protective Life Corporation appointed the Maynard Cooper managing shareholder as Protective Life’s executive vice president and general counsel.
Maynard Cooper & Gale, P.C., announced that Greg Curran was elected chairman to succeed Managing Shareholder Mark L. Drew, whom Protective Life Corporation announced has been named executive vice president and general counsel.
Jeff Grantham, a tenured leader of Maynard Cooper & Gale, was elected the law firm’s vice chairman and chief strategy officer. Grantham is a member of Maynard Cooper & Gale’s executive committee and has served as chair of the litigation section.
Curran, a longstanding member of the Maynard Cooper & Gale’s executive committee, most recently served as chair of the business section.
Drew has served as Maynard Cooper & Gale’s managing shareholder for the last decade.
“Mark has been a great leader for the firm for the past ten years and he will be missed,” Curran said. “We will stay true to our culture and remain focused on executing the firm’s strategic plan. Providing value to our clients and our people will be at the center of all we do.”
“We are grateful for Mark’s years of leadership,” Grantham said. “He has set a high bar but the firm is blessed with distinguished clients and a deep bench of talented individuals. We will continue to focus on the needs of our clients, invest in our talent and execute on growth opportunities.”
Protective Life said that Drew’s appointment continues a legacy of Maynard Cooper & Gale alumni holding leadership positions at Protective Life.
He will report to Protective Life Chairman and CEO John D. Johns, the company said in a Tuesday statement.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Mark for more than 20 years,” Johns said. “He is an exceptional lawyer whose diverse legal experience and strong leadership skills will be invaluable to Protective as we continue to execute our strategies for growth. We are delighted to have someone of Mark’s stature join our senior management team.”
Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William J. Canary said Curran’s leadership and Drew’s experience will be valuable assets to both Maynard Cooper and Protective Life. “The business community congratulates both Maynard Cooper and Protective Life on these appointments,” Canary said.
“Under Johnny Johns’ leadership, Protective has reached heights that few believed were possible,” Canary said. “The addition of Mark Drew at continues the company’s legacy of building an all-star team. His legal skills are the gold standard in the industry.
“At Maynard Cooper, Curran will continue the firm’s outstanding successes,” Canary said.
Drew’s corporate legal work includes counsel to private and public companies, including banking, insurance and other financial institutions, at both the board and transactional level.
Drew has significant experience handling corporate transactions at the international level and has worked on matters in the Middle East, China, Europe, South America, and Canada.
Plans are already in motion to ensure a seamless transition, Maynard Cooper & Gale said. Drew will continue working over the next several weeks to provide support to the new leadership. He will report to Protective Life in August.
Deborah J. Long, Protective Life’s executive vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, and chair of the BCA’s judicial and legal reform committee, added, “I am pleased and excited to welcome Mark to Protective. He is a respected professional colleague and friend. I look forward to working with him in the future.”
Protective Life Corporation provides financial services through the production, distribution and administration of insurance and investment products throughout the U.S. The flagship subsidiary, Protective Life Insurance Company, was founded in 1907. Protective’s home office is located in Birmingham, Alabama. As of December 31, 2015 the Company had assets of approximately $68.5 billion. Protective Life Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited.
On the Web at www.protective.com.
In the last 10 years, Maynard Cooper & Gale has experienced significant growth, expanding across Alabama into key markets including Huntsville and Mobile, and expanding outside the state to meet client needs with the opening of an office in San Francisco. The firm has grown from 145 attorneys in 2006 to 240 today.
On the Web at www.maynardcooper.com.