Related Professionals
William P. Thornton Jr., President and CEO of The Stevens & Lee Companies, has been recognized among Greater Philadelphia’s “Most Admired CEOs” by the Philadelphia Business Journal for 2026. The awards spotlight established leaders who are driving innovation, business success and meaningful workplace developments in the Greater Philadelphia community.
Bill, who became President and CEO of The Stevens & Lee Companies in 2023, guided the Platform through a period of strategic expansion, strengthening its position as one of the leading professional services organizations in the Philadelphia region and beyond. Under his leadership, Stevens & Lee — the full-service law firm at the cornerstone of The Stevens & Lee Companies — raised its attorney headcount by 30% and opened new offices in Providence, RI, Pittsburgh and two in Northern New Jersey while driving substantial growth in existing markets, earning the firm a position on the AmLaw 200, which ranks the largest law firms in the U.S. Across every office, Bill has fostered a culture built on hard work, mutual respect and an unwavering commitment to client service.
As a community leader, Bill is on the Board of Directors of Tower Health, serving on its Finance Committee and as Chair of the Governance Committee, and also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Caron Foundation and as a member of its Executive Committee, Audit, Compliance and Risk Management Committee and Investment Committee.
Prior to his role as President and CEO, Bill was Co-Chair of Stevens & Lee’s Litigation Department and led the firm’s Securities Litigation Practice from 2002 to 2022. For 33 years, he has represented wealth management companies nationwide in claims related to the purchase and sale of securities, life insurance and other financial products.
Bill is a graduate of Villanova University School of Law and of Dickinson College, where he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for basketball.
