Paul Theiss Bio

Paul Theiss is one of the leading corporate lawyers in the United States, focusing on a broad spectrum of mergers and acquisitions and capital markets work. He advises clients on both public and private mergers and acquisitions, and serves as general outside counsel to numerous companies as they develop and expand their growing businesses, advising on matters ranging from corporate governance to regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Paul served as Mayer Brown’s chair from 2012 to June 2021, a period during which Mayer Brown achieved success unprecedented in its history. He was Mayer Brown’s longest-serving chair since the 1990s. He also was a member of the firm’s Management Committee for more than a decade and served as a co-leader of the firm’s global Corporate & Securities practice. He joined Mayer Brown in 1985. An internationally recognized leader, Paul has given dozens of interviews to leading trade and business publications on the legal industry and Mayer Brown’s performance. He has also participated in various discussion forums with clients and other law-firm leaders on topics such as associate retention, diversity and inclusion, the importance of client relationships and challenges facing the legal industry. Recognized by Chambers USA as one of the leading corporate lawyers in the United States for the past 13 years, he was ranked in 2021 as an “eminent practitioner” and described as a “good negotiator and a technically strong attorney.” In previous editions, he’s been called a “really good lawyer with an excellent reputation” (2020), a “strong practitioner” (2019), an “accomplished corporate lawyer who offers recognized strengths in public and private M&A work” (2018) and a lawyer “known for his knowledge and understanding of a range of industries” (2017). Paul is also recognized in other leading publications including Leading Lawyers Network and IFLR.