Allen Chichester’s experience includes 30+ years as a leader in marketing and business development for AmLaw 100 law firms, and for some of the world’s best-known companies and brands.
At Builden, Allen serves as a trusted marketing and business development advisor to AmLaw and midsize law firm clients. He also serves as a key member of Builden’s operations team, bolstering the agency’s processes, client service models and service offerings.
During his nearly 14-year tenure as CMO, Allen helped Barnes & Thornburg LLC jump 35 ranks in the AmLaw 100/200 by recruiting and leading a team of marketing and business development professionals whose alumni now fill-out the ranks of elite law firms across the country. In 2016, he further drove innovation by creating and incubating an industry leading legal operations department that put the firm at the forefront of pricing and budgeting for clients.
While serving as the CMO for Piper Rudnick, he supported the vision of the founders in their international roll-up strategy with cutting edge branding, communications and business development, leading to the global powerhouse that is DLA Piper is today.
Prior to that, Allen had an illustrious career with Leo Burnett International where he attained responsibility for their six office greater China operation based in Hong Kong during the 1990’s. As Chairman of Greater China, he led the expansion of the firm into China itself by opening successful offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing to serve the firm’s global clients.
In 2020, Allen was named as a Notable Executive in Marketing by Crain’s Chicago Business. In 2012, he was named as a Top Ten Private Company CMO by ExecRank magazine. He currently serves at the Co-Chair for the CMO Special Interest Group for the Legal Marketing Association. Allen graduated from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University with an MBA in marketing.
Allen lives with his family in Highland Park, Illinois, where he serves as the Chair of the board of directors for the Citadel Theater.
