As the firm nears its 80th anniversary, Palmer’s visionary leadership will continue to guide its dedication to clients, colleagues, and communities.
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Grant S. Palmer has been reelected to serve as Chair and Managing Partner for a new four-year term, effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2029. He was first elected Managing Partner in 2019 and named Chair and Managing Partner in 2023.
Palmer joined Blank Rome over 35 years ago as a summer associate and became a partner in 1998. He has held numerous leadership roles at Blank Rome, including serving as Commercial Litigation Practice Group Leader, Litigation Department Chair, and on Blank Rome’s Executive Committee, Distribution Committee, Partner Board, Lateral Recruiting Committee, and Pro Bono Committee.
Reflecting a career-long commitment to access to justice, Palmer founded Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Committee and chaired it for 16 years. Under his leadership, the firm hired its first full-time Director of Pro Bono and implemented mandatory pro bono requirements in 2014, leading to record-breaking participation and hours in the years that followed. In recent years, Blank Rome has been nationally recognized for its pro bono leadership, ranking among the top firms for attorney participation and hours contributed, while expanding its community partnerships and impact.
“I am honored to be reelected by my partners to continue serving Blank Rome as Chair and Managing Partner,” said Palmer. “Blank Rome’s eight decades of success are driven by the extraordinary talents and shared commitment by our people to our core values. I look forward to advancing our strategic growth; expanding our capabilities in the markets, practices, and industries where our clients need us most; and upholding the core values that define Blank Rome, including our commitment to exceptional client service; meaningful teamwork and collaboration; diversity, inclusion, and belonging; and pro bono and community service.”
Blank Rome has strategically grown under Palmer’s leadership, adding top legal talent across practice groups and industry teams, and opening offices in Chicago (2019), Orange County (2021), Dallas (2023), and Boston (2024) to support clients in key markets. Blank Rome has grown in recent years to 800 lawyers.
Under Palmer’s leadership since 2019, Blank Rome’s financial trajectory has been marked by consistent double-digit net income growth, reflecting the firm’s disciplined approach to budgeting, strategic lateral hiring, and a culture that values long-term profitability and the professional success of its attorneys.
In addition to its strategic expansion and financial success, Blank Rome has continued to cultivate a culture of excellence, inclusion, and collaboration. The firm’s enhanced and highly effective lateral integration initiatives have strengthened its practices and deepened client relationships across key markets. Its summer associates and mid-level associates have consistently ranked the firm as among the top nationally, reflecting Blank Rome’s commitment to mentorship, professional development, and meaningful engagement. These rankings underscore the firm’s reputation as a destination for top legal talent and a workplace where professionals thrive and grow.
Palmer is a nationally respected litigator with extensive trial experience in both state and federal courts across the country. He began his legal career as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Robert S. Gawthrop in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Palmer is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and Bucknell University.
