Wright Lindsey Jennings announces new managing partner, COO

Little Rock-based law firm Wright Lindsey Jennings announced Monday (Feb. 5) two personnel moves.

Partners have elected chief operating officer Stephen R. Lancaster to succeed Ed Lowther as managing partner. Attorney Adrienne L. Baker has been promoted to replace Lancaster as COO.

Lowther, who had been the firm’s managing partner the past 13 years, said in a statement it was time to turn the reins over to “younger blood.”

“My partners made an excellent decision in choosing Steve to succeed me,” Lowther said. “Over the past decade, Steve has served as the firm’s chief operating officer – responsible for managing the firm finances during a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity. I am confident that, under his leadership, the firm will continue to flourish.”

Lancaster, who has been with WLJ his entire legal career, had been COO the past 11 years. He will continue his litigation practice while acting as managing partner, focusing on breach of contract litigation, trust litigation, engineer and architect defense, gaming regulation, title insurance litigation and general commercial dispute resolution.

Baker, whose litigation practice began at WLJ in 2007, is the firm’s first female COO. She will continue her practice, which includes a focus on banking and commercial lending, creditors’ rights and contract disputes.

WLJ was founded in 1900 and also has an office in Rogers.