Richard “Dick” Bigelow joined Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP in October 2002 and became the firm’s first chief operating officer.

Bigelow is a certified public accountant with more than 31 years of experience. He runs the firm’s more than $100 million business and is largely responsible for executing its strategic vision. With Bigelow at the helm, Luce Forward has grown throughout California, opening offices in Orange County and Rancho Santa Fe, and expanding its office in San Francisco.

Bigelow immediately made major improvements to Luce Forward’s operations. He shifted the role of marketing from event planning to strategic business development; brought in financial and business development skills and software, which enabled the firm to learn more about its client base; and improved the firm’s follow-up on billing and collecting.

Bigelow is the firm’s top non-lawyer manager and a member of the executive committee. He is skilled in seeing how to best deal with and support lawyers, and anticipates logistical support for not only day-to-day client service, but also the firm’s unusual needs. He oversees all non-lawyer aspects of the business, which include information technology, human resources, facilities, marketing and finance. He is responsible for activities at each of the firm’s six offices statewide (approximately 200 attorneys and 215 staff members).

Bigelow has served on the board of directors for San Diego Metropolitan YMCA, San Diego Opera, Wellness Community of San Diego, San Diego Police Foundation and the Holiday Bowl Committee.

He graduated from DePaul University in 1969 with a degree in economics.