Foley Featured for Significant Lateral Growth and Strategic Sector Plan

Foley & Lardner LLP Chairman and CEO Daljit Doogal spoke to The American Lawyer about Foley’s lateral hiring and strategic plan that together have established the firm as a market leader across the Energy & Infrastructure, Health Care & Life Sciences, Innovative Technology, and Manufacturing Sectors.

In the article, “Putting Strategic Plan into Gear, Foley Hires 45 Lateral Partners Since Early 2024, Most in Key Practices,” Doogal shared that a focus of the firm’s strategic plan, launched in 2021, was growing bench strength by hiring top lawyers in the firm’s four key sectors.

“What we really tried to do was change our approach to recruiting. We have several firms we work with that we have very strong relationships with. We refined our lateral partner questionnaire,” Doogal said. Foley has hired 45 lateral partners across 15 cities — including entering new markets with office openings in Raleigh and Nashville — since the beginning of 2024, with 79% of them in a sector.

Doogal emphasized that the firm does not pursue growth for growth’s sake, noting Foley’s commitment to ensuring a strong cultural fit. “It’s about the talent,” he said, noting the firm’s “below average” attrition rate in its partnership and associate ranks. Of the lateral partners hired since the beginning of 2024, all are still at the firm except for one.

As part of the article, The American Lawyer highlighted recent lateral partner hires Jason Levine and Teresa Taylor, who joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Levine pointed to Foley’s “great team and people-oriented culture” and national platform as motivating his move. “Foley is a very sophisticated firm and I love their focus on client service excellence,” Taylor added.

“We are seeing nice demand,” Doogal added, sharing that he is optimistic about the firm’s performance so far in 2025 following last year’s record revenue.

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