Biography
With a multifaceted career spanning the military, legal practice, and academia, Ben Grimes embodies the power of leadership transformation in the legal profession. A graduate from the United States Military Academy, Ben began his professional life as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and transitioned to become a seasoned and decorated military attorney. His was a 20-year journey dedicated to litigation, legal ethics and professional responsibility, education, and leadership development.
Ben works with lawyers navigating pivotal career junctures, particularly those assuming new roles of responsibility within the legal landscape. Leveraging his experience in legal academia— formerly as a Professor and Vice Chair of Criminal
Law at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center & School and currently as an adjunct Lecturer in Law for Columbia Law school—Ben specializes in guiding attorneys transitioning into new positions of responsibility. Whether as new partners, practice group leads, or managing partners, he is adept at helping clients develop the mindset, skills, and practices necessary to excel.
Central to Ben's methodology is the fusion of introspection with pragmatic leadership strategies. Through a lens of trust, transparency, empathy, and unwavering passion, Ben gives clients the confidential and objective support they need to make profound change. This introspective approach lays the groundwork for a transformative leadership journey, underpinned by practical applications in team building and cultural development.
Ben understands the nuances of leadership and the profound impact it can have on organizational dynamics. Through bespoke coaching, he helps legal professionals not just embrace their new roles but flourish within them. This includes thinking beyond the individual and creating an impact on the fabric of legal workplaces. By fostering environments anchored in trust, cultivating transparent communication, and nurturing empathetic leadership, Ben catalyzes positive cultural shifts within law firms and legal offices.
Recognized as an authority in legal ethics and attorney professionalism, Ben is committed to reshaping the very ethos of the legal profession. With a fervent belief in a lawyer l s obligation to care for those they lead, he is working to revolutionize the ways supervisory attorneys engage with their peers, non-attorney professionals, and clients, fostering a culture of respect and collaboration.
For lawyers who don't accept that the way it's been is the way it has to be, Ben is the partner you've been looking for.