Barnes & Thornburg Appoints Seasoned Law Firm Executive Buck Owen as Chief Operating Officer
Veteran legal industry operator brings deep experience in law firm strategy, operations and innovation
Barnes & Thornburg announced today that Buck Owen has joined the firm as chief operating officer. Based in Washington, D.C., he will work with firm leadership to drive strategic objectives and lead initiatives that support Barnes & Thornburg's continued national growth and operational efficiency.
Owen has over 20 years of experience in professional services operations at law firms and financial services organizations. He most recently served as chief operating officer of a top Am Law firm, overseeing all business and practice operations.
“Buck is an exceptional executive and an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” Barnes & Thornburg Managing Partner Andrew J. Detherage said. “He has spent years at the highest levels of law firm operations with a strong focus on strategy. His experience integrating practices and offices, driving technology adoption and aligning operational excellence with strategic growth is exactly what Barnes & Thornburg needs as we continue to grow and evolve. We are in a strong position as a firm and having Buck in this role positions us to execute on our strategy with even greater speed and precision.”
In his prior tenure, Owen played a central role in that firm's expansion, leading the integration of new practices and offices, streamlining operations across a domestic platform, and spearheading the incorporation of generative AI and other advanced technologies into talent development and client service delivery. Prior to serving as COO, he held the role of chief practice officer at the same firm, where he partnered with practice and sector leaders on strategic planning, performance evaluation, and investment decisions, and served as COO of the firm's transactional practices.
“Barnes & Thornburg is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing firms in the country, and the opportunity to help shape its next chapter was one I could not pass up,” Owen said. “What Andy and the firm's leadership have built — the record financial performance, the national expansion, the investment in talent and technology — is a remarkable foundation. My goal is to ensure that our operational infrastructure and business services capabilities are not just keeping pace with that growth but actively accelerating it. I am energized by what this firm is becoming, and I am proud to be part of it.”
Owen's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Barnes & Thornburg. After reporting a banner financial performance in 2025, the firm made one of the legal industry's largest lateral moves in recent memory with the acquisition of a 39-lawyer public finance and infrastructure group. The firm also added a 12-lawyer insurance recovery team in April. So far this year, more than 100 lawyers have joined Barnes & Thornburg, resulting in the firm topping the list for Q1 2026 lateral partner hiring, according to Pirical. Owen’s arrival follows the recent addition of Emily Landry as its chief onboarding and integration officer, further strengthening Barnes & Thornburg’s leadership team and positioning the firm for continued expansion.
About Barnes & Thornburg
Barnes & Thornburg operates 26 offices across the United States, enabling more than 850 lawyers to serve clients nationwide. As one of the 100 largest law firms in the country, we provide seamless coast-to-coast coverage for high-stakes litigation, complex transactions and innovative IP matters. Our national reach and knowledge of local markets help clients conduct business confidently wherever opportunities arise.
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