Derek Hardesty
is a partner at King & Spalding and the firm’s Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Mr. Hardesty oversees the firm’s non-legal operations.
Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Hardesty served as the firm's Director of Strategic Projects, where he worked closely with the firm's chair, policy committee and practice and office leaders to design and execute the firm's strategy; assisted with office and practice group planning and retreats; and supervised the firm’s key client program. He also worked with firm leaders to design and implement changes to the firm’s management processes, including the firm’s equity partner compensation system, its associate compensation and bonus systems, and its approach to associate recruiting.
Mr. Hardesty also previously served as the Director of Professional Development at King & Spalding. In that position, he designed and implemented training programs for the firm’s attorneys and clients, worked with the Lawyer Development Committee to craft the firm’s professional development strategy, oversaw the firm’s mentoring program, and worked with individual practice groups and attorneys to assess the firm’s training needs.
Mr. Hardesty was an associate in both the Litigation - Tort & Environmental and Private Equity Practice Groups at King & Spalding before moving into firm management on a full time basis. He has experience litigating individual, class actions, and multi-district lawsuits in the southeastern United States and with investment fund formation and the issuance of convertible debt.
From 1999-2001, Mr. Hardesty was an associate with McKinsey & Co., Inc. in McKinsey’s Atlanta office. During that time, he worked on a number of engagements involving strategy, customer segmentation, customer retention, management training, and operations.
Mr. Hardesty has spoken on leadership in law firms, effective support of practicing lawyers, and law firm management.
Mr. Hardesty graduated, summa cum laude, from Duke University with a degree in economics in 1992. He received his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard University in 1995.
