Hogan Lovells announced that partner Lauren Colton has been named Office Managing Partner for the Baltimore Office. Colton takes the reins effective May 1 from partner Steve Barley.

Colton, who has been with Hogan Lovells for nearly 19 years, heads the firm’s Products Law group, and focuses primarily in the life sciences sector. She is recognized for her technical and scientific knowledge, as well as an understanding of clients’ regulatory and commercial environments. Colton’s extensive experience in product liability litigation extends to individual, mass tort, and class actions in federal and state courts across the United States.

“Lauren has spent her entire career at Hogan Lovells working from the Baltimore office, and has a depth of knowledge about the firm and the office that make her a great fit as our next OMP,” said Richard Lorenzo, Hogan Lovells Regional Managing Partner for the Americas. “I want to thank Steve for the tremendous job he has done for the Baltimore office. Hogan Lovells has an exceptional reputation for the work we do here, due in no small part to Steve’s efforts.”

Barley, who served as Office Managing Partner for the Baltimore office since 2014, will continue to focus his practice on commercial litigation.

“I am very grateful to Steve for his leadership during the last seven-plus years,” Colton said. “Under his guidance, the Baltimore office has grown to become a strategic partner for clients across the life sciences, energy, technology, aerospace and defense, and other sectors. I look forward to building on this momentum.”