L. Howard Belknap, chief operating officer and executive director of Baker & McKenzie’s Big Apple office, has flown south to Jackson, Mississippi-based Butler Snow, where he will serve as COO of the firm.

Belknap’s move to Butler Snow was effective July 1. He succeeds Lance Bonner, who held the post for 15 years before leaving Big Law behind in January for a position as vice president of strategic development at Delta Industries Inc.