Key Points
- Husch Blackwell has appointed Michael Barton as the firm’s new Chief Financial Officer.
- Barton brings over 20 years of experience in professional services, with expertise in strategy execution, team building, and financial and operational management.
- He joins the firm from Schulte Roth & Zabel, where he served as CFO overseeing more than $600 million in revenue and led merger-related financial diligence and integration with McDermott Will & Emery.
- Barton has also held senior leadership roles at Goodwin Procter, and accounting/professional services firms including Cherry Bekaert, Rothstein Kass (now part of KPMG), and Grant Thornton.
- Barton will be based in Husch Blackwell’s virtual office, The Link, and replaces longtime CFO Timothy Tyler, who is retiring after nearly 40 years of service.
- In his new role, Barton will oversee the integrity of financial information and systems, direct overall finance policies, and work with leadership to optimise financial strategy, enhance profitability, and ensure scalable systems for national growth.
- Husch Blackwell CEO Jamie Lawless praised Barton’s combination of financial expertise and operational insight, describing him as an “exceptional fit” to support the firm’s future growth.
- Barton joins amid wider senior leadership changes, including the appointment of Erin Banks as Chief Business Development Officer, reflecting Husch Blackwell’s focus on a scalable, data-informed leadership model.
- Barton expressed enthusiasm about joining Husch Blackwell, highlighting opportunities to support long-term growth and shape the next phase of financial strategy.
Barton (Oxford Daily News) January 30, 2026, Husch Blackwell has announced the appointment of Michael Barton as its new Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Timothy Tyler, who retires after nearly four decades in the role. Barton, a seasoned operations and finance executive, brings extensive experience leading strategy execution, financial management, and operational initiatives in professional services firms.
The appointment reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to building a forward-thinking, scalable leadership team capable of supporting its continued national expansion and operational excellence.
Who is Michael Barton and what experience does he bring?
As reported by Husch Blackwell, Michael Barton joins the firm from Schulte Roth & Zabel, where he served as CFO overseeing more than $600 million in revenue. During his tenure, he led financial diligence and integration efforts related to the firm’s merger with McDermott Will & Emery, demonstrating expertise in complex financial operations and strategic planning.
Barton’s career includes senior leadership roles at Goodwin Procter, where he managed financial and strategic initiatives, as well as at accounting and professional services firms including Cherry Bekaert, Rothstein Kass (now KPMG), and Grant Thornton. His experience spans financial management, operational strategy, and leadership development, equipping him to support Husch Blackwell’s growth objectives.
In his new role, Barton will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of financial information and systems, directing the firm’s overall finance policies, and collaborating with leadership to optimise financial strategy and scalability.
Who is Timothy Tyler and what is his legacy at Husch Blackwell?
Timothy Tyler, the retiring CFO, served the firm for nearly 40 years, establishing a legacy of financial stewardship and operational excellence.
As reported by Husch Blackwell, Tyler played a central role in shaping the firm’s financial infrastructure, enabling sustainable growth and providing a strong foundation for future expansion. CEO Jamie Lawless emphasised Tyler’s contribution:
“We are extremely grateful to Tim for his decades of service to the firm and for positioning us well for our future growth.”
Tyler’s retirement marks the end of a significant chapter in Husch Blackwell’s financial leadership, while Barton’s appointment signals a strategic transition towards a modern, scalable finance model.
What will Michael Barton’s role entail at Husch Blackwell?
According to Husch Blackwell, Barton will serve as a key member of the C-suite, responsible for:
- Overseeing the integrity of financial systems and information.
- Directing and managing the firm’s overall finance policies.
- Collaborating with leadership to optimise financial strategy and enhance profitability.
- Implementing scalable systems to support continued national growth.
CEO Jamie Lawless highlighted Barton’s value in aligning finance with operations and strategy:
“Michael boasts a rare combination of deep financial expertise and a clear understanding of how operations, data, and talent intersect to drive firm success. His experience leading complex integrations, building scalable infrastructure, and aligning finance with strategy makes him an exceptional fit for this role.”
Barton’s role will be central to Husch Blackwell’s ambition to strengthen operational excellence while supporting client service and business development initiatives.
What strategic objectives does Husch Blackwell aim to achieve with this appointment?
Husch Blackwell has undertaken several senior leadership changes, including the addition of Erin Banks as Chief Business Development Officer.
As reported by the firm, Barton’s appointment supports the creation of a scalable, data-informed leadership model, which aims to:
- Facilitate national expansion of the firm’s services.
- Ensure operational excellence across multiple offices.
- Elevate client service delivery through better financial and operational planning.
- Provide a foundation for long-term growth through strategic oversight.
By bringing in Barton, Husch Blackwell signals its commitment to a modern approach to financial management that integrates operational strategy with firm-wide leadership priorities.
Why was Michael Barton selected for this role?
Barton was chosen due to his extensive experience in both finance and operations within professional services.
As noted by Jamie Lawless, CEO 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.”
Barton’s previous work at Schulte Roth & Zabel, including oversight of high-value mergers and integration projects, demonstrates his capability to manage complex financial and operational challenges—skills directly applicable to Husch Blackwell’s ambitions.
What has Michael Barton said about joining Husch Blackwell?
Michael Barton expressed enthusiasm about his appointment, acknowledging the firm’s momentum and growth potential.
As reported by Husch Blackwell, Barton said:
“I’m excited to join Husch Blackwell at a time of real momentum. 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.”
His comments emphasise a forward-looking approach to financial leadership, focusing on scalable systems, operational alignment, and strategic growth.
How does this appointment fit into Husch Blackwell’s wider leadership strategy?
The firm’s recent leadership changes, including Barton’s appointment as CFO and Erin Banks as Chief Business Development Officer, reflect a deliberate effort to:
- Strengthen the firm’s executive team with experienced leaders.
- Build a data-informed leadership model that integrates finance, operations, and strategy.
- Support national expansion and operational excellence.
- Enhance client-focused service delivery.
As reported by Husch Blackwell, the firm aims to maintain its position as a leading professional services organisation while fostering sustainable, scalable growth through its senior leadership team.
What impact is expected on clients and operations?
With Barton overseeing finance and operational alignment, Husch Blackwell anticipates improvements in:
- Financial planning and reporting.
- Scalability of systems across multiple offices.
- Strategic decision-making support for practice areas.
- Efficiency in operations to better serve clients.
The appointment signals to clients, employees, and stakeholders that Husch Blackwell is investing in leadership capable of supporting continued national expansion and service excellence.
What is the significance of a virtual office location for Barton’s role?
Barton will be based in the firm’s virtual office, The Link, which reflects Husch Blackwell’s flexible and modern approach to operations.
As reported by Husch Blackwell, this arrangement enables Barton to oversee national finance and operational functions efficiently while supporting the distributed nature of the firm’s offices and teams.
The virtual office model also highlights the firm’s adaptability in embracing technology to facilitate strategic leadership and operational coordination.
