DENVER (Dec. 13, 2023) – Holland & Hart partners voted to elect Chris Balch to a second four-year term as Firm Chair, beginning January 1, 2024.
Balch began his first term as Firm Chair on January 1, 2020, just weeks before the COVID pandemic. Balch, together with firm leaders and the five-member Management Committee navigated unprecedented economic disruption, the Great Resignation and ensuing recruitment and retention challenges, and persistent economic uncertainty driven by the war in Ukraine and inflation. Despite these obstacles, the firm achieved record financial performance each year over the last four years.
“I am deeply honored to serve this remarkable organization for another four years,” said Balch. “We have a powerful platform, a unique culture, and most importantly, talented, dedicated people. Embracing excellence in all we do allows us to deepen our relationships with existing clients and build new collaborative partnerships. With strong firm leaders executing a well-designed strategic direction, I have great confidence in the firm’s future.”
Starting at Holland & Hart as a summer clerk, Balch has practiced his entire legal career at Holland & Hart, except a brief time working in an executive role for a software company. While serving as Firm Chair, Balch has continued his corporate and M&A practice as a respected advisor to clients in technology, private equity, cybersecurity, consumer, and other industries on complex investment, financing, and strategic transactions. His clients include businesses ranging from funded start-ups to private equity, growth capital, and venture capital investors (and their portfolio companies) to publicly traded companies with multibillion-dollar market capitalization.
Before becoming Firm Chair, Balch served in a number of leadership roles. He was elected to three-year terms as a member of the firm's Management Committee in 2009 and again in 2019. He co-led the firm’s Technology industry group, served as the Denver Hiring Partner and multiple strategic planning and recruiting committees, and served on the board of the Holland & Hart Foundation since 2008, including as co-chair from 2010 to 2021.