Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith founding partner and co-chairman Robert “Bob” Lewis stepped down on Wednesday, on the heels of a eight-partner group departure to launch a new employment firm, which is expected to welcome at least 110 lawyers from Lewis Brisbois.

Lewis, 86, founded Lewis Brisbois in Los Angeles in 1979 and is one of the longest-serving chairs of any Am Law 100 firm.