Global law firm alliance Meritas has named Kohrman Jackson & Krantz partner Brett Krantz as its new chair, replacing Jill Wiley whose term draws to a close.

Krantz will serve a two-year term, building on his experience as a member of the alliance’s executive committee where he was chair of its quality assurance committee. In the latter role, Krantz helped develop the network’s global cybersecurity standards for member firms.

Sona Pancholy, Meritas’s president, said: “Brett brings extensive experience leading various initiatives for Meritas and is highly regarded by our members worldwide. He understands the ways in which technology, talent development and law firm business models are responding to the current marketplace, and will leverage this to ensure Meritas and its members are well-positioned to continue serving mid-market clients globally.”

Krantz has more than three decades of legal experience, starting his career in 1990 as an associate at then-named Patton Boggs, before spending seven years as a partner at Duvin Cahn & Hutton and then joining his current firm in 2004. He is a member of the firm’s executive committee and chair of its litigation department, specialising in commercial, securities and consumer protection disputes and regulatory investigations.

Krantz said: “It’s a critical time for the legal industry, with corporate counsel seeking efficiency, effectiveness and assurance that their information is kept safe, and that the law firms they choose to work with live up to those standards.”

Krantz’s predecessor Wiley has been in the role since 2018. She is managing partner at Waterfall Economidis Caldwell Hanshaw & Villamana and chair of its trust and estate practice group.

Pancholy, meantime, celebrates her first anniversary as president this month. She joined last year from Bloomberg Industry Group, where she was director for law and tax strategy. She also previously served as director of business development at firms including Venable and Stinson Leonard Street.

Meritas has 186 member firms in 91 countries around the world. Its most recent addition was Australian commercial firm DMAW Lawyers, which signed up last July. Last month the alliance’s Global Race and Equality Taskforce launched two new diversity groups for member firms – its Black Lawyers Forum and Women’s Leadership Congress.