When Kim Koopersmith takes over the role of chairperson of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in April, it will usher in a leadership change for the first time in almost two decades.

Koopersmith, currently the firm’s U.S. managing partner, takes over for R. Bruce McLean, who has held the post of chairman since 1993. Under McLean’s leadership, the firm grew from about 350 lawyers in six offices to almost 900 attorneys in 17 offices. In 2011, the firm posted gross revenues of $770 million.