History alumnus makes global connections in legal field

While he knew that he wanted to be a lawyer as an undergraduate, the time that Jim Maiwurm ’71 spent at The College of Wooster influenced the confidence he had to pursue his goals. Originally from Shreve, a small village located a 15-minute drive from Wooster, Maiwurm felt intimidated at first by his classmates who came from large high schools in major cities. He found Wooster prepared him for the diversity of people and challenges in the legal profession. Receiving the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2024, Maiwurm carved out a successful career in corporate law and continued involvement in his local community and in Wooster.  

“My practice and experience over time constantly grew and became more diverse. Wooster helped me grow in ways that would never have been anticipated,” Maiwurm said. After graduating, he received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and began his career at Squire Patton Boggs, a global law firm. He started in litigation by resolving disputes through the court system. He then moved to the corporate law department, then to the firm’s Washington, D.C. office where he worked on mergers, acquisitions, securities, and other global management issues. Maiwurm eventually became the chair of the global board and CEO of the company, managing more than 800 employees and overseeing combinations with firms across the world. His more than 40 years of legal and business expertise aided organizations from small startups to Fortune 500 companies, including his work leading the restructuring of a prominent publicly held international engineering firm.  

Maiwurm is involved with the Board of Directors of the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation, which promotes the role of public service and pro bono work in the field of law and the development of public policy. He also served on the boards of multiple publicly held companies and nonprofit organizations in his local community.  

Remaining connected with the College, he served terms on the Board of Trustees and Alumni Board. “The diversity of my legal practice experience reflects the diversity of the experience found in excellent liberal arts colleges,” he said. “Wooster prepared me for growth in terms of experience and challenge, and for that I will be forever grateful.”  

Posted in Alumni on June 30, 2024.