HOUSTON, December 3, 2020 – Gibbs & Bruns is pleased to share two historic firsts for the firm.
In late 2020, Gibbs & Bruns LLP named Ashley M. Kleber and Michael R. Absmeier as the firm’s Co-Managing Partners. Ashley and Mike succeed Scott Humphries, who will retire at year’s end following a 24-year career with Gibbs & Bruns and nine years of service as our litigation boutique’s Managing Partner. Ashley and Mike, as Co-Managing Partners, will manage a group of 36 trial lawyers at the firm.
Ashley will be the first female Managing Partner in Gibbs & Bruns’ history. And her position is most fitting for the firm that Robin Gibbs founded 37 years ago. First known as Gibbs & Ratliff, Robin launched the litigation boutique alongside fellow University of Texas School of Law alum Debbie Ratliff in 1983—at a time when female trial lawyers were still a rarity. Gibbs & Bruns is proud to have played a part in changing that. Today as much as ever, Gibbs & Bruns continues to foster a culture that focuses on its lawyers’ skills and talent and where fair and equal opportunities are provided for women and men alike. Currently, 33% of the firm’s lawyers, and 25% of its partners, are women.
Mike will be the first military veteran Managing Partner in Gibbs & Bruns’ history. Mike served as an Armor officer in the United States Army, where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1998 and left service as a Captain in 2002. During that time, Mike served as an M1 Abrams tank platoon leader, tank company executive officer, and a general staff officer. Just as in the Army, a firm’s culture is a product of its leadership, and it has an enormous impact on individual and team performance, the retention of talented people, and the long-term success of the organization. Gibbs & Bruns’ culture and success are rooted distinctly in the talents, ethics and drive of our lawyers. We are intent on personal engagement with our clients and committed to the tenets of professionalism and civility.
Both Ashley and Mike are graduates of University of Texas School of Law. Ashley graduated with highest honors, and was Grand Chancellor and Order of the Coif, in 2007. Mike, a 2005 graduate, was Order of the Coif and Associate Editor of The Review of Litigation. Gibbs & Bruns has a long tenure of adding top talent from the University of Texas, as well as from Harvard Law School.
For 37 years it has been a privilege to serve our clients and to share our unique camaraderie with our colleagues and peers alike. With Ashley and Mike’s leadership, our team of top-flight litigators—a collection of the brightest and most innovative trial lawyers in the nation—will carry on the firm’s legacy of first-rate client service and winning results.
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ABOUT GIBBS & BRUNS LLP
Gibbs & Bruns LLP is a litigation boutique engaged exclusively in high-stakes business and commercial litigation. The firm is acclaimed for its high-value and precedent-setting work across the energy, banking, technology, and financial services sectors, among others. Gibbs & Bruns is renowned for its signature lean trial teams and representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in complex matters. For more information, visit www.gibbsbruns.com.
