Ajay Raju, who has served as chairman and CEO of Philadelphia-based law firm Dilworth Paxson for the last seven years, officially stepped away from his leadership position Dec. 31 to focus on other business ventures.

Elected to take over Raju’s role as chairman is longtime commercial trial lawyer Lawrence G. McMichael, a member of the Dilworth Paxson’s senior leadership team and chair of the professional practice, effective Dec. 23. Raju said he will continue to be affiliated with Dilworth Paxson, even as he steps away from firm management.