San Diego-based Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP announced today that John D. Alessio, who focuses on complex class actions and business and employment litigation, will serve as the firm’s managing partner beginning Jan. 1.

Alessio, 48, will replace Tom W. Turner Jr., 63, who will return to full-time legal work as a partner and team leader for Procopio’s real estate and environmental team. Turner was managing partner for 17 years, according to the firm.

Alessio said he looks forward to “continuing the great progress” Procopio has experienced since it founded in 1946. Today, Procopio is the largest San Diego based law firm, Alessio explained, and it has expanded throughout the Southwest.

“Service is engrained in our culture, and that will continue to be our focus,” said Alessio, via email.

Alessio’s practice includes litigation involving trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, real estate, shareholder and contractual disputes, and more. He has represented a number of financial institutions, including Plaza Home Mortgage, Mission Federal Credit Union and Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.

Turner said Alessio has demonstrated sound judgment as a Procopio management committee member and expressed confidence in his abilities to lead the firm.

Under Turner’s leadership, Procopio nearly tripled in size to more than 160 attorneys in five offices across the western United States. The firm also became the largest to be based in San Diego during that time.

During his 17-year tenure as managing partner, Turner never stopped practicing commercial real estate transaction law. He represents clients in deals involving industrial, technology, healthcare, and resort projects.

Some of his clients include Scripps Health, SENTRE, and Bridgeport Education, according to the firm.

Alessio said he has “big shoes to fill” with his new position as managing partner.

“Tom set the ‘gold standard’ for managing partners and has taken Procopio to remarkable heights,” Alessio wrote in a statement. “It is a great honor to be selected by my peers for this position, and I am highly motivated to lead Procopio to even greater success.”