Barclay Damon elects Cahill as its first woman managing partner

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Barclay Damon LLP announced that Connie Cahill has been elected managing partner of the law firm’s 475-person organization, effective Jan. 1.

She is the first woman to lead the law firm in its more than 165-year history, Barclay Damon said in a Monday news release.

She assumes the duties that John Langan previously held. As part of an “orchestrated transition plan,” Langan has transitioned to the role of chair after serving as managing partner for 20 years.

Cahill began a three-year position as deputy managing partner in 2018 to prepare for the transition to managing partner, the firm said.

Syracuse–based Barclay Damon operates offices in the Northeastern U.S. and focuses on energy, intellectual property, labor and employment, and health-care practice areas.

Langan on Jan. 1 moved to the newly created chair position, where he reports to Cahill and focuses on lateral attorney recruiting; growth of the firm’s major-market offices in New York City and Boston; and managing some of the firm’s larger client relationships.

“Over the course of her career in a traditionally male-dominated legal field, Connie has consistently shattered the glass ceiling in developing a leading public finance practice, in building a large and diverse Albany office, and in forming and leading the firm’s successful Women’s Forum, among other projects,” Langan said in the release. “She’s a remarkable attorney and respected leader, and I’ve been honored to work with her over the past decade.”

About Cahill

Cahill joined Hiscock & Barclay — now Barclay Damon — in 2006 as co-chair of the firm’s public finance practice area and became the sole chair in 2018.

Barclay Damon describes Cahill as a “leading” bond lawyer in New York state, having built a “high-performing team” that represents state authorities, agencies, and other issuers in some of the “largest and most complex” public-project transactions in the Northeast.

Cahill has also held positions as the leader of the firm’s financial services practice group and Albany office managing director, helping the office double in size and secure its current ranking as the Capital District’s second-largest law firm office.

Since Cahill joined Barclay Damon’s management committee 12 years ago, she has helped drive “significant growth” in the representation of women in leadership positions throughout the firm, including on its two main governing bodies, Barclay Damon said.