Bob Helman, a former Mayer Brown leader who spent more than a half-century at the firm before retiring earlier this year, died this week at age 90.
The firm said on Friday that Helman, who served as chair for 15 years beginning in 1984, when it was still known as Mayer, Brown & Platt, died after an extended illness.
Mayer Brown said in a statement on his death that Helman, who was named an American Lawyer Lifetime Achiever in 2015, was “one of the most highly regarded corporate lawyers in the United States.” His practice included corporate governance and “transformational” M&A deals for some of the largest publicly held corporations, the firm stated.
“His successes on behalf of clients are legion, including his representation of Santa Fe Pacific in a merger that created the largest North American rail network,” the statement Friday noted. “Bob also was dedicated to serving pro bono clients and the community at large, including helping establish Legal Aid Chicago to provide free legal services to indigent people.”
In Helman’s honor, according to the statement, the firm established the Mayer Brown/Robert A. Helman Professorship at Northwestern University School of Law, where Helman earned his J.D. and was named to the Order of the Coif.
As noted in his 2015 Lifetime Achiever profile, Helman took the reins as co-chair of the firm at a difficult time, after the firm’s largest client, Continental Bank, filed for bankruptcy. The bank accounted for about 30% of the firm’s business at the time.
A group of nearly 20 lawyers at the firm also decamped to begin the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. But along with then co-chair Leo Herzel, Helman helped expand the client base, attracted new lateral partners, and altered the firm’s management structure to be more merit-based.
“By the end of Bob’s tenure, Mayer Brown was a stronger, larger and more diversified law firm,” the firm added in its statement today.
Helman is survived by his wife, Janet Williams Helman, a sister, children and grandchildren. The firm said information regarding services and memorials will be shared as it becomes available.
Another former chair of the firm, Ty Fahner, died in September.