To the Members of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms:

It is with profound sadness that we share the news that John C. "Jack" Buchanan, the founder and President of Primerus, passed away Thursday, May 21 in Arizona, surrounded by his family. He was 89. The Buchanan family has graciously given us permission to share this news with the worldwide membership Jack built and loved.

Jack was, first and foremost, a lawyer. He practiced with distinction for decades before turning his attention to a larger idea: That the practice of law could and should mean something more than the transaction. In 1992, he founded Primerus on a simple but uncompromising premise: That there existed, in every market in the world, independent law firms of genuine quality, lawyers of unimpeachable character, and a clientele that deserved better than what the conventional market was offering them. He believed those firms ought to know one another. He believed they ought to stand for something together. From that conviction, Primerus was born.

The Six Pillars — Integrity, Excellent Work Product, Reasonable Fees, Continuing Legal Education, Civility, and Community Service — were not marketing language to Jack. They were the standard. They were the promise. They were the reason a Primerus firm meant something different from a name pulled off a directory. For more than three decades, Jack defended that standard with a steadiness and conviction that shaped the careers of thousands of lawyers and the experience of countless clients across six continents. Ever the planner, Jack also turned his attention in recent years to what would come next. In Christian Stegmaier, he identified and tapped a successor to carry the Society forward, and the transition he designed continues as he intended.

The Primerus that Jack leaves behind is the Primerus he envisioned: An international society of independent law firms committed to being the companion of its members — showcasing them in their markets, educating their lawyers and their clients, connecting them with one another across borders and disciplines, and developing the next generation of leaders who will carry this work into the decades ahead. That is the inheritance. That is the charge. This mission will continue into the future.

"Jack was a titan of the law," said Christian Stegmaier, President and Chief Executive Officer-Designate of Primerus. "Ever the practitioner, leader, founder and visionary, patriot, husband, father, son, and friend. A giant whose life and legacy are truly meaningful, significant, and enduring."

Details regarding services and the family's wishes for remembrances will be shared as they become available. In the meantime, we ask that you hold the Buchanan family in your thoughts and prayers. We will gather as a Society in the days and weeks ahead to honor Jack properly and to recommit ourselves to the work he started.

With respect and shared resolve,

Christian Stegmaier

President and Chief Executive Officer-Designate