Dean Cannon, a GrayRobinson lobbyist and former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, officially took the reins as president and CEO of the Am Law 200 firm in September. He succeeded Mayanne Downs, a forceful leader who trimmed the firm’s head count and boosted the firm’s profits and revenue per lawyer.

Cannon spoke with the Daily Business Review about lessons he learned as a lawmaker and how he plans to maintain the firm’s culture of unilateral leadership and individualism. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.