Foley & Lardner LLP (often referred to simply as "Foley") is an international law firm founded in 1842. In terms of revenue, it ranked 45th on The American Lawyer's 2024 AmLaw 100 rankings of U.S. law firms, with $1.168 billion gross revenue in 2023.[3]
In 1969 the firm adopted the name Foley & Lardner LLP and launched a succession of acquisitions to become a national law firm.[9] The name refers to two name partners, both corporate lawyers: Leon Foley and Lynford Lardner Jr. Both Leon Foley and Lynford Lardner are credited with launching the law firm's large national expansion. Foley, who acted as a strategist in the development of Aurora Health Care System, which would become Wisconsin’s largest healthcare provider, died at 83 in 1978. Lardner, who also served as the president of the United States Golf Association, died after drowning in the Milwaukee River.[10]
Lardner is survived by four grandchildren. When the firm merged with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP in 2018, the plan (at least initially) was to use, in some cities, a firm name including the name partner name "Gardere".[11]
In 2020, Foley & Lardner partner Cleta Mitchell aided Trump in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and pressure election officials to "find" votes for him to defeat then Democratic Party candidate and current President of the United States, Joe Biden.[12] Mitchell criticized Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, accusing him without evidence of saying things "that are simply not correct" about the presidential results in Georgia.[12] She also claimed without evidence that dead people voted in the election.[13] When confronted with why a Foley & Lardner partner was involved in aiding Trump in overturning the 2020 election, Foley & Lardner distanced itself from Mitchell.[14] On January 5, 2021, Foley & Lardner announced that Mitchell had resigned.[15]
William M. Conley, U.S. District Court judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, was a partner in the Madison office[18]
Jim Doyle, Former Governor of Wisconsin, is of counsel in the Madison office[19]
Bob DuPuy, former president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball, has been a partner in the Milwaukee and New York offices[20]
Thomas E. Fairchild, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, was an associate in the Milwaukee office from 1945 to 1948[21]
Russ Feingold, Former United States Senator from Wisconsin, was an associate in the Madison office[22]
Brian Hagedorn, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, worked at the Milwaukee office
Brett H. Ludwig, U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, was a partner at the Milwaukee office[23]
Marcia Morales Howard, U.S. District Court judge for the Middle District of Florida, was an associate in the Jacksonville office[24]
Lisa S. Neubauer, Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge and candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, was a partner in the Milwaukee office[25]
Ulice Payne Jr., Former CEO of the Milwaukee Brewers and first African-American CEO of a Major League Baseball franchise, was a partner in the Milwaukee office
Fred Ridley, current Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, is a partner in the Tampa office, former national chair of the Real Estate Practice, a member of the Hospitality & Leisure (former co-chair) and Sports Industry Teams, a member of the Transactions Practice, and a former member of the firm’s Management Committee.
Manuel Rocha, Former U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia (2000–02), is a Senior Advisor on International Business in the Miami office. Arrested on December 1, 2023 on charges of spying for Cuba.[26]
Cleta Mitchell, attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election and subsequently resigned.[27]
^Chanen, Jill (March 30, 2018). "Foley & Lardner LLP and Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP Complete Combination". Foley & Lardner LLP. Foley & Lardner LLP and Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP today announced the successful combination of the two firms, effective April 1, 2018. [...] The combined firm will be known as Foley Gardere in Austin, Dallas, Denver, and Houston and as Foley Gardere Arena in Mexico City. All other offices will operate as Foley & Lardner LLP. With joint revenues of $830 million, the combined firm will be among American Lawyer's Top 50 U.S. law firms.
^Ben Poston, "At new hall, Scalia stresses teaching", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 8, 2010. ("Scalia, who once clerked at Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee between his second and third years at Harvard Law School, joked that Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson had named him an 'honorary cheesehead.'")
