The Philadelphia Inquirer Business Names Column.(Originated from The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Jul. 22--Corporate America is again ripe for mergers and acquisitions, and that means a return to the fast pace of the '80s for lawyers like Barton J. Winokur, who specialize in complex transactions. So how will Winokur keep up with an active practice and serve as chairman of an international firm of 500 lawyers? "The way you do more is by becoming more efficient," he says.

Winokur took over leadership of Dechert Price & Rhoads this month, succeeding Thomas B. Morris Jr., who had served as chairman for six years. Morris navigated the recession years, and the firm, according to to Winokur, is strong and growing, with the addition of three offices (Hartford, Conn.; Paris, and London) in the last two and a half years.

This, then, is no time to sit back and relax. There are legions of law firms out there clamoring for clients, and Winokur's goal is to make Dechert stand out among the vast array of choices. He wants prospective clients to see it as a firm where service is consistently outstanding at every level, not as a place where only superstars are known for stellar work. "You have to have all your lawyers pulling in the same direction," Winokur says, "and your non-lawyers."

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