It is often said that one’s past does not determine one’s future. However, Leonardo Loo, who on October 1, 2018 was named the Phoenix-office managing partner of Quarles & Brady LLP, takes great pride in honoring his past as he helps shape Arizona’s future.
“I was born in Venezuela, and my family roots are in China and Mexico,” says Loo, who is fluent in both Spanish and Chinese. “And my wife is African-American, giving our children a more diverse background than either of us.”
A member of the firm’s Business Law, Finance and International Services Law Practice Groups, Loo practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, commercial financing, international transactions, securities and general corporate law for clients in a wide variety of industries. Loo served as chair of the Phoenix Business Law Practice Group since 2014 before taking the reigns as Phoenix-office managing partner earlier this year.
“I was initially drawn to Quarles & Brady in 2011 by the firm’s team approach and its commitment to developing client relationships based on true collaboration. I am proud to be working with clients in the top of their industry like Arizona State University in its acquisition of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, as well as the work we’ve done for GlobalTranz Enterprises as part of its roll-up strategy, among many others.”
Championing diversity and good works beyond the office, Loo currently serves on the board of directors for Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., where he is the immediate past chairman. “CPLC has been a rewarding community organization to work with because its dedicated staff of over 900 directly impact more than 306,000 people annually throughout Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.”
In addition to his leadership roles within Quarles & Brady and CPLC, Loo serves as general counsel for both the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Black Chamber of Arizona. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey recently honored Loo with an official commendation for his service to the legal community and for his distinguished leadership. He has been named as one of the “Most Admired Leaders” by the Phoenix Business Journal, as well as among the top “Minority Leaders in Arizona” and “Arizona Business Leaders” by Az Business Magazine. Loo was also previously honored with a “40 under 40” award by the Phoenix Business Journal and is a graduate of Scottsdale Leadership Class XIX. Loo is also involved with the Arizona Asian American Bar Association, and in 2013 was honored by the Phoenix Chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals with its “Community Leader of the Year” award for his devotion to the community and outstanding service to the Valley.
“As I settle into my first year as the Phoenix-office managing partner at Quarles & Brady, I see my efforts primarily focused in three key areas: First, our firm has enjoyed a rich history in the local legal and business community, and I am eager to continue to work with our clients to provide top-notch legal services and innovative solutions to meet their goals. Second, I want to deepen our commitment to our community through our various outreach, inclusion and volunteer programs, and pro bono work. Finally, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to continue to cultivate and develop our internal talent while, at the same time, attracting skilled lateral attorneys as part of our growth plans in the Southwest. While competition in the legal services sector will continue to intensify, I am confident in our firm’s ability to operate well in that environment through our commitment to service excellence for our clients.”
About Quarles & Brady
Quarles & Brady is a multi-disciplinary, full-service AmLaw 200 firm with more than 500 attorneys nationwide and offices in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Chicago, Indianapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Naples, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. Its clients include major national and multinational corporations, technology companies, educational and research institutions, municipalities and government agencies, charitable organizations, industry executives and high-net-worth individuals. They are industry leaders in technology, energy, financial services, healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals, real estate and manufacturing, to name just a few.
With more than 100 attorneys in three local Arizona offices, Quarles & Brady provides an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients, ranging from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies. The firm is known in the community as a full-service business law firm, with local attorneys who excel in healthcare and life sciences, business law, labor and employment, real estate, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The local team has been honored by Best Companies AZ for the past decade as being among the “Most Admired Companies in Arizona” and was the first-ever business to be honored by the Arizona Diversity Council with the “Corporate DiversityFIRST™ Leadership Award” for its outstanding accomplishments in the promotion and advancement of diversity through inclusion and strong leadership.
Quarles & Brady strives for excellence in all it does: in quality of legal work, service to clients, strength and diversity of attorneys and staff, superior work environment, and involvement in each of the communities it calls home.
Three principles govern the firm’s approach to legal service:
Quarles & Brady practices value. The firm is structured to provide world-class legal representation efficiently and cost-effectively, delivering a valuable return on the client’s investment. From tailored alternative fee arrangements to proactive strategic advice, smart staffing and regular performance checks, it enters relationships with a commitment to give clients what they pay for and then some.
Quarles & Brady defines success by clients’ metrics. Whether the firm is establishing an individualized set of documented service expectations and standards for each client or building custom teams of legal professionals to address each particular need, Quarles & Brady is laser focused on helping clients achieve business goals on their terms.
Quarles & Brady understands its clients. The firm takes the time to learn about each client’s business, its competitive environment and its strategic goals. This broad-based knowledge guides legal counsel and the drive to achieve longer-term objectives for each client while building long-standing client relationships over quick wins.
Keeping these principles top of mind contributed to the firm’s recent recognition as a “2018 Best Law Firm” by Best Lawyers and U.S. News Media Group, including “Law Firm of the Year” in Franchise Law. The firm earned first-tier rankings in nine practice areas nationally and 80 first-tier regional rankings. In addition, Quarles & Brady has been honored by Working Mother as one of the “2018 Best Law Firms for Women,” in recognition of using best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers.
At-A-Glance
Year founded in the Valley: 2000
Industry: Legal Services
Top local executive/position: Leonardo Loo, Phoenix Office Managing Partner
Number of years with Firm: 7
Number of Valley employees: 175
Company website: www.quarles.com
Top 5 services/products: Full-service business law firm. Key practice areas include, among others:
- Business Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Labor & Employment
- Real Estate
- Health Law
Greatest 2018 milestone for the company: Celebrating more than 125 years of client service by being named a Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers, including “Law Firm of the Year” in Franchise Law
