Anne E. Ross to Succeed Michael G. Laskis as Managing Partner of Foley's Madison Office

Madison YWCA Woman of Distinction To Lead the Office.

Foley announced today that Anne E. Ross succeeds Michael G. Laskis as managing partner of the firm’s Madison office. Laskis steps down after serving as office managing partner for 11 years and will continue as a member of the firm’s Commercial Transactions & Business Counseling Practice.

“We are extremely grateful to Mike for his years of service and commitment to the firm as managing partner of the Madison office,” said Ralf Boer, the firm’s chairman and CEO. “Anne has stood out as an exceptional leader in her business law practice at the firm for the last 25 years and has been equally influential throughout the community. We are confident she will successfully lead the firm’s Madison office.”

Laskis led the office through a period of rapid growthasthe office nearly doubled in size during his tenure. He helped strengthen the office’s core practice areas including estate planning, business transactions, private equity, real estate, patents and trademarks, utilities and environmental law, public affairs and commercial litigation. He encouraged both attorneys and staff to take leadership positions with charitable and community organizations such as Downtown Madison Inc., the Madison Community Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club.

“I am grateful to have helped lead such a dedicated group of people during my time as managing partner of the firm’s Madison office,” said Laskis. “I am pleased to hand the reins over to Anne. I know she will do a great job.”

Ross serves as legal counsel to public and private companies in a wide range of technology and financial services industries. She has had extensive experience handling mergers and acquisitions, distribution and licensing arrangements, private debt and equity financings and strategic partnerships. She also represents venture capital, “angel,” and for-profit and nonprofit institutional investors in fund formation, portfolio investments and “exit” transactions.

“I am excited to begin my new role as managing partner of the firm’s Madison office. I believe we are headed into a period of dynamic growth in the Dane County business community. All of the key elements are in place – a great engine of research and innovation driven by the faculty at the University of Wisconsin, a network of talented private equity investors with proven ability to achieve success in this market, and a growing pool of management talent,” said Ross. “Foley is uniquely positioned as a national law firm with a full service office in Madison to provide the full range of legal services required for these enterprises to grow and succeed.”

Ross has served on the boards of directors of a number of nonprofit organizations and public commissions, including the Madison YWCA, the Urban League of Greater Madison, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Accelerate Madison, the Benedictine Life Foundation and the Henry Vilas Zoo Commission. In May 2007, the Madison YWCA named Ross a “Woman of Distinction” in recognition of her community service, professional achievement, integrity, leadership and dedication to the lives of others and the quality of life for all.

Foley was recently recognized by Corporate Report Wisconsin magazine with a Best of Wisconsin Business Award, which named Foley the state’s Best Law Firm for the last three years (2005–2007). In addition, In Business magazine named Foley the preferred local law firm in its 2005 Executive Consumer Choice Awards for outstanding client service.

On a national level, Foley recently was named to the BTI Power Elite list, a ranking of the top 20 law firms with the strongest market positions based upon the quality of their client relationships. In 2006, Foley was named to the BTI Client Service 30 list, which recognizes law firms named for their exceptional client service by corporate counsel at Fortune 1000 corporations, and also was selected as a 2006 BTI “Market Mover” and a BTI “Market Trailblazer.”

Foley & Lardner LLP provides the full range of corporate legal counsel. Our attorneys understand today’s most complex business issues, including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property counseling and litigation, international distribution and outsourcing, labor and employment, securities law compliance, litigation, and tax. The firm offers total solutions in the life sciences, nanotechnology, information technology, medtech, energy, financial services, private equity, food, insurance, and health care industries, among others.