Professional development at Foley provides the tools and resources necessary to advance our people’s personal and professional goals, best serve our clients, and contribute to the firm’s long-term prosperity.
As part of the programs we provide to help our people build core skills and position themselves for success, Foley has become a Full Firm Member of the American Bar Association (ABA). We have enrolled all firm attorneys and business professionals as ABA members, providing them with access to a variety of career development resources.
Through membership, our attorneys will find opportunities for public speaking, publishing, networking, leadership, and volunteering. Foley attorneys also have the opportunity to enroll in one complimentary ABA Section, Division, or Forum of their choice, providing additional educational and networking resources to help them keep up-to-date in their practice area.
Over the years, many of our attorneys have availed themselves of these opportunities to enrich their careers in liaison with the ABA. For example:
- Partner Scott Ellis was recently appointed to the ABA’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession.
- Partner Mike Okaty is the chair the ABA’s Senior Housing and Assisted Living group, a part of the Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law.
- Partner Donna Pugh is a past chair of the ABA Section of State and Local Government Law.
Senior counsel Lauren Champaign was featured in the October 2022 edition of the ABA Journal in this ‘Members Who Inspire’ profile, which describes her upbringing and background that led to her motivation to become a lawyer and help her community, and highlights her work with other Foley colleagues to form the Racial Justice and Equity Practice Group.
We officially kicked off our firmwide membership on October 6 with representatives from the ABA, which just happens to be in the same office building as Foley in Chicago. And all attorneys and business professionals were invited to attend a 30-minute introductory program during which the ABA’s Director of Membership provided an overview of the ABA and how to navigate the ABA’s resources as a new member.
Pictured from left to right: Mike Noonan, Foley Special Counsel; Ken Zinn, ABA Chief Membership & Marketing Officer; Kevin Henderson, ABA Membership Director; Donna Pugh, Foley Partner; Alpha Brady, ABA Deputy Executive Director; Kelly Hales, Hines General Manager (building management company for 321 N. Clark); Mark Hebbeln, Foley Partner; Katie Brenzek, ABA Membership Manager; Harold Kaplan, Foley Partner.
