Foley Expands Corporate Platform with Partner Additions in Dallas and Boston
Foley & Lardner LLP announced today the continued expansion of its national corporate platform with the addition of partners James Bedotto in Dallas and John Stern in Boston. Bedotto joins the firm’s Finance Practice, while Stern joins the Taxation Practice, further enhancing the firm’s capabilities in debt finance, fund structuring, and transactional tax matters.
Bedotto and Stern come to Foley from Kirkland & Ellis and Goodwin Procter, respectively. Their arrivals build on a period of significant firmwide growth, with 15 lateral partners joining Foley since February, including nine corporate partners in the past three months.
“We are intentionally building our national corporate platform in the areas where our clients need us most, and the addition of James and John reflects that focused investment,” said Jim Peterson, chair of the firm’s Corporate Department. “James strengthens our complex debt finance capabilities, particularly with respect to private equity transactions, while John adds meaningful depth in fund structuring and transactional tax. Together, they expand our ability to support clients across the full lifecycle of complex transactions.”
Bedotto advises private equity sponsors, financial institutions, and corporate borrowers on complex commercial and structured finance transactions. His practice spans leveraged acquisition financings, reserve-based and asset-based credit facilities, refinancings, workouts, and restructurings, representing clients on both the lender and sponsor sides. He also brings substantial experience in upstream and midstream lending, as well as financings for private equity sponsors.
“Foley offers a strong platform to continue growing my finance practice while collaborating with attorneys across disciplines,” said Bedotto. “The firm’s national reach, sector-focused approach, and strengths in debt finance and private equity, particularly within the energy and infrastructure sector, make it an excellent fit for my practice and the work I do for clients.”
Stern focuses his federal income tax practice on the structuring, formation, and operation of private investment funds, joint ventures, and other collective investment vehicles. He advises sponsors of private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds on their organization and ongoing operations, with extensive experience guiding real estate fund sponsors and investors in all stages of the private fund lifecycle, including navigating complex REIT and FIRPTA issues. Stern also represents limited partners in private fund investments and advises clients on the tax aspects of acquisitions, dispositions, financings, restructurings, and secondary market transactions.
“I was drawn to the depth of Foley’s tax practice and strength of its broader corporate platform, as well as the firm’s continued investment in areas that directly align with my work,” said Stern. “The collaborative, supportive culture and the people I met reinforced that Foley is the right place for the next phase of my career.”
About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP is a preeminent law firm that stands at the nexus of the Energy & Infrastructure, Health Care & Life Sciences, Innovative Technology, and Manufacturing Sectors. We look beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and act as trusted business advisors to deliver creative, practical, and effective solutions. Our 1,100 lawyers across 27 offices worldwide partner on the full range of engagements from corporate counsel to intellectual property work and litigation support, providing our clients with a one-team solution to all their needs. For nearly two centuries, Foley has maintained its commitment to the highest level of innovative legal services and to the stewardship of our people, firm, clients, and the communities we serve.
