Hartford Business Journal

16 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MARCH 9, 2026 M. Brad Lawrence, managing partner of Cantor Colburn, photographed in the firm's recently consolidated and renovated Hartford headquarters office. HBJ Photo | Steve Laschever Steady At The Helm Cantor Colburn reshapes staffing model under new managing partner, targets 10% billing growth across the partnership, keep the firm cohesive and provide the continuity clients expect. "I spent many years working in the back of my mind on transition," Colburn said. "We have a lot of large multina- tional clients that need stability. They need this to be seamless." Lawrence joined Cantor Colburn as a partner in 2008 and rose to co-chair the firm's electrical engineering practice before taking the helm. As he assumed increasing respon- sibility over the past year, Colburn said partners repeatedly expressed confi- dence in Lawrence's leadership. "I had many partners come up and say: 'We think Brad's doing a good job. We think this is going to be a good fit,'" Colburn said. Colburn described Lawrence as a steady, collaborative leader well-suited to guide the firm through ongoing changes in the legal profession. "He analyzes things, he looks at it, he doesn't make rash decisions," Colburn said. "He doesn't go in there and say: 'We're going to change everything.'" By Michael Puffer mpuffer@hartfordbusiness.com W hen M. Brad Lawrence stepped into the managing partner role at Cantor Colburn at the start of 2026, he didn't envision a dramatic overhaul of the Hartford-based intellectual property law firm. Instead, Lawrence said, his main priority was to take this "great big ship" — built over decades into a national leader — and keep it steady. But that still leaves room for the firm to reposition itself for long-term growth amid intensifying competition. Lawrence is leading efforts to recal- ibrate Cantor Colburn's staffing model amid accelerating senior attorney retire- ments and intensifying post-pandemic competition for legal talent. Rather than replacing departing part- ners with other veteran lawyers, the firm is expanding its pipeline of early-career attorneys and patent agents, whose work will be overseen by a smaller group of top-level attorneys. The goal is to increase capacity, standardize work product through centralized review and free senior lawyers to focus on high- level client relationships. His overall goal is measured: increase billings by 10% over five years — growth he said would generate capital for reinvestment in technology, staffing and long-term stability. "We could probably ride our careers out on the clients we have," Lawrence said. "But that would mean getting smaller over time. I want to leave some- thing bigger than I received." 'A good fit' The shift comes after a leadership transition. Cantor Colburn, which specializes in patent, trademark and other intellectual property law, was built by its two namesakes, Philmore H. Colburn II, who stepped down as managing partner at the close of 2025, and Michael Cantor, who relin- quished his co-managing partner role a year earlier. Lawrence called them "extraordinary rainmakers" whose client relationships fueled the firm's expansion into a national practice. Under the firm's 1999 partnership agreement, partners must step down and sell their equity stakes at age 65, creating room for advancement. Colburn, entering his final year as co-managing chair, initiated the election process last year and wanted a full year to train his successor. There were multiple candidates. Colburn abstained from the vote, leaving the decision to the remaining partners. He said he was looking for someone who would inspire confidence M. BRAD LAWRENCE Managing Partner Cantor Colburn Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder; law degree, Boston University School of Law Age: 52

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