Potter Anderson & Corroon has named partner Kathleen Furey McDonough as its new chair-elect, marking the first time a woman has been elected to chair the firm’s executive committee.

McDonough became chair-elect effective Jan. 1, the firm announced Tuesday, and will become chair of the firm at the beginning of 2018. Current chairman Michael B. Tumas is expected to complete his three-year term, which runs through the end of 2017.