Thomas Froehle Jr. will become chair and managing partner of Faegre Baker Daniels in March 2017, the firm announced Wednesday. Froehle, a public finance expert currently serving as vice chair and chief operating partner of the firm, operates out of its Indianapolis office.
He will succeed Andrew Humphrey, who has been the chair and managing partner of Faegre since the 670-lawyer firm was formed more than four years ago through the combination of Minneapolis-based Faegre & Benson and Indianapolis-based Baker & Daniels. Humphrey’s term limit has expired, but he will remain with the combined firm as a partner.
Froehle said he looks forward to helping Faegre shift its focus from post-merger integration toward growth and client service. That process is already underway.
Faegre, which had $466 million in gross revenue last year, opened a Los Angeles office in 2016. Froehle expects the firm to continue expanding in California, as well as in Chicago. Based on feedback gleaned from hundreds of client visits over the past few years, Froehle is also thinking about how to offer greater efficiency and more integration with companies’ in-house teams.
“We think clients are looking for their law firms to venture boldly both with regard to legal strategy but also with approaches to how we deliver services,” he said.
Froehle was unanimously appointed by Faegre’s 14-member management board and then confirmed to his future leadership role by a partner vote in September.
“We believe it’s worthwhile to avoid the challenges of contested elections,” Froehle said.
Prior to the merger, Froehle served as CEO of Baker & Daniels. He will continue to work closely with Humphrey, who was chair and managing partner of legacy firm Faegre & Benson, since even before the combination between the two firms was official.
“[Froehle’s] just a terrifically talented, experience and thoughtful person and leader,” Humphrey said. “I feel that the transition is going to be seamless.”
Contact Rebecca Cohen at [email protected].
