International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP announced today that its Policy Committee has appointed Ken Cutler to serve as the Firm’s Managing Partner. A leading corporate attorney, Mr. Cutler will begin his three-year term as Managing Partner of Dorsey, which is one of 100 largest law firms in the United States with over 550 lawyers in 19 offices in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, on January 1, 2013. He will succeed current Dorsey Managing Partner Marianne D. Short who will become Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of UnitedHealth Group, Inc., a long-time Dorsey client.
“Ken Cutler is a superb lawyer and a natural leader,” said Bill Berens, who serves as Chair of the Firm’s Policy Committee. “We are confident that he will be able to build on Dorsey’s strong global platform and ensure the Firm’s continued success in pursuing our client-service mission and strategic goals.”
Mr. Cutler is a Partner in Dorsey’s Corporate Group with over 35 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, emerging growth companies, venture capital financing and representation of private and public companies on general corporate matters, financing transactions and SEC-registered public offerings. He is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee, where he is Partner-in-Charge, Transactions, with responsibility for the Firm’s transactional practices around the globe.
Mr. Cutler is listed in Best Lawyers in America and was named a “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in 2011. He has also been named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA and has been a Minnesota Super Lawyer since 2003.
Mr. Cutler serves as a director, and formerly served as chairman of the board, of the Minnesota Zoo. He also serves on the board of directors of the Minnesota Orchestral Association and on the board of governors of the Minneapolis Club.
“We have worked with Ken for over 13 years and can attest to the fact that Ken is a fine lawyer and a proven leader both at Dorsey and in the community,” said Chris Heim, CEO of 2ndWave Software. “He will make a great Managing Partner for a great law firm.”
Mr. Cutler is a graduate of the University of Chicago. He received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.