CHICAGO, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson is resigning as chairman of the law firm Winston & Strawn LLP.
Crain's Chicago Business said the move comes as Winston partners are voting on whether to consolidate operational responsibilities under the managing partner, curtailing the chairman's authority.
Thompson, 70, says he'll continue to serve clients and fulfill outside commitments, including four corporate directorships.
"There's plenty to do," he told Crain's. "Nothing changes."
During Thompson's 13-year tenure at the Chicago firm, Winston & Strawn has grown from 320 lawyers to 820 and opened six more offices including branches in London, Paris, Geneva and Moscow, the Chicago Tribune said.
Thomas Fitzgerald, the firm's managing partner-elect, told Crain's the proposed change in the partnership agreement is not a reaction to the firm's controversial and costly pro-bono defense of former governor and Thompson crony George Ryan against public corruption charges.
