Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce the arrival of Michael Barton as the firm’s new Chief Financial Officer. A seasoned operations and finance executive, Barton brings more than 20 years of professional services experience leading strategy execution, team building, and financial and operational management. He is based in the firm’s virtual office, The Link, and replaces the firm’s long-time CFO, Timothy Tyler, who is retiring after serving in the role for nearly 40 years.
Barton, who joins the firm from Schulte Roth & Zabel, will serve as a key member of Husch Blackwell’s C-suite and be responsible for the integrity of the firm’s financial information and systems, as well as directing the firm’s overall finance policies. He will also work closely with firm leadership to optimize financial strategy, enhance profitability, and ensure scalable systems are in place to support the firm’s continued national growth.
“Michael boasts a rare combination of deep financial expertise and a clear understanding of how operations, data, and talent intersect to drive firm success,” said Jamie Lawless, Chief Executive of Husch Blackwell. “His experience leading complex integrations, building scalable infrastructure, and aligning finance with strategy makes him an exceptional fit for this role. He will play a critical role as we continue building a forward-thinking leadership team to support the next chapter of our growth. We are extremely grateful to Tim for his decades of service to the firm and for positioning us well for our future growth.”
Barton most recently served as Chief Financial Officer at Schulte Roth & Zabel, where he oversaw more than $600 million in revenue and led financial diligence and integration efforts related to the firm’s merger with McDermott Will & Emery. His career includes other senior leadership roles at Goodwin Procter, where he led financial and strategic activities, as well as at accounting and professional services firms Cherry Bekaert, Rothstein Kass (now part of KPMG), and Grant Thornton.
“I’m excited to join Husch Blackwell at a time of real momentum,” said Barton. “I look forward to partnering with our leadership to build solutions that support long-term growth and help shape the next phase of financial strategy.”
Barton’s appointment, which follows changes to the firm’s senior leadership team and the addition of Erin Banks as Chief Business Development Officer, reflects Husch Blackwell’s continued focus on building a scalable, data-informed leadership model that supports national expansion, operational excellence, and elevated client service.