Fish & Richardson Appoints Kristine McKinney as Chief Operating Officer

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fish & Richardson has named Kristine McKinney to be its new chief operating officer. McKinney replaces current COO Richard J. Anderson, who served in the role for the past eight years and is stepping away as part of a planned succession. 

McKinney has been with Fish since 2016, previously serving as the firm’s first chief legal talent and inclusion officer. Under her leadership, the firm has lived its values, naming its most diverse class of principals ever in 2021 and being selected as a Best Law Firm for Women for the fourth consecutive year by Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) in June. As COO, McKinney will oversee business operations of the firm’s 14 offices in the U.S., Europe, and China.

Anderson, a former longtime member of Fish’s management committee and former head of the firm’s patent group, will remain at the firm as a senior principal, focused initially on supporting the COO transition. “Kristine brings tremendous vision and experience to this important role, and I cannot think of a more qualified person to assume this position,” said Anderson.

“Kristine has ideal qualities to guide our firm forward as the legal industry continues to evolve,” said John C. Adkisson, president and chief executive officer of Fish. “She understands how to improve operational effectiveness in a manner that serves larger strategic goals. Maybe more importantly, she inspires people at all levels of the firm.”

Before joining Fish, McKinney held multiple leadership positions at the Am Law 100 law firms Faegre Baker Daniels and Kirkland & Ellis. Among other responsibilities, she managed diversity initiatives at both firms and directed professional development at Faegre. She is a sought-after speaker on organizational effectiveness, change management, leadership, and diversity. McKinney received her M.S. in learning & organizational change from Northwestern University and her B.A. from the University of Minnesota.

About Fish & Richardson

Fish & Richardson, the premier global intellectual property law firm, is trusted by the world’s most innovative and influential companies. From patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution and counseling to our full-service litigation practice, we work together to provide our clients with exceptional advocacy across the life cycle of intellectual property needs in the U.S. and around the world. Our deep bench of attorneys with first-chair trial experience in every technology makes us the go-to firm for the most technically complex cases. Fish was established in 1878, and now has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S., Europe, and China. Our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences, and perspectives. For more information, visit fr.com or follow us at @FishRichardson.