The Path & The Practice

In celebration of the 100th episode of The Path & The Practice, Alexis Robertson welcomes Kendall Waters, Tori Roessler, and Dan Sharpe for a super-sized episode dedicated to exploring the path to legal practice. This is a candid discussion with members of Foley’s recruiting committee—Tori and Kendall—detailing how students can best prepare to interview with Foley, and other large law firms, as we...

This episode features Michael Wall, of counsel in Foley’s Boston office. In this conversation, Michael reflects on growing-up in Lynn, MA, and attending the College of Holy Cross for undergrad and Boston College for law school. Michael discusses working in law firms the first six years of his career before moving in house and serving as Chief Legal Officer for the Boston Bruins and TD Garden for o...

This is a special edition of The Path & The Practice, featuring the audio from a program that Alexis Robertson, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, delivered to 1Ls and 2Ls at the University of Minnesota Law School. In the discussion, she outlines how law students can grow their personal brand and expand their professional network through in-person, email, and social media interactions. It...

This episode features Ed Baxa, a litigation partner in Foley’s Orlando office. In this conversation, Ed reflects on growing-up in Fairfax County, VA, and attending the University of Virginia for undergrad and law school. He discusses serving as a public defender after earning his J.D. and working for a small law firm before joining Foley, after about a decade of practice. Ed reflects on the growth...

This episode features Eric Williams a litigation associate in Foley’s Houston office. In this conversation, Eric reflects on growing-up in Houston, TX, attending the University of Houston and South Texas College of Law. Eric discusses his journey to college and law school, a journey that included transferring colleges and working over a decade prior to law school. Eric reflects on the jobs he had...

This episode features Kate Clendenen a litigation associate in Foley’s New York office. In this conversation, Kate reflects on growing-up in Scotts Valley, CA, attending the University of California, Los Angeles, and attending New York University School of Law. Kate discusses her journey to college and law school, as well as her initial weeks as a brand new first year attorney at Foley. Kate refle...

On this special episode of The Path & The Practice, I welcome back Larry Perlman for a conversation packed with advice to new associates. Larry is a partner and member of Foley’s labor & employment group. He is also the litigation department’s training chair, the Miami office’s hiring partner, and a member of the firm’s recruiting committee. Prior to attending law school at the University of Michi...

This episode features Dan Sharpe. Dan sits in Foley’s Washington, D.C., office and recently joined Foley as Manager of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. In this conversation, Dan reflects on growing-up in Voorhees, NJ, attending Princeton University and University of Virginia School of Law. He discusses spending two years as a Patent Examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office before law school a...

This episode features Ivory Djahouri, a 2022 summer associate in Foley’s Chicago office. In this conversation, Ivory reflects on growing-up in Chicago, IL, attending University of Illinois Chicago for undergrad and University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Ivory reflects on the twists and turn on her journey to law school, including the years she worked as an IP Legal Specialist, prior to atte...

This episode features James Austin, a 2022 summer associate in Foley’s Chicago office. In this conversation, James reflects on growing-up in Flossmoor, IL, attending DePaul University for undergrad and Villanova University School of Law. James reflects on working for over 4 years before attending law school. He also discusses how he managed to secure a 1L summer associate position with Foley. He r...

This episode features Daniel Costandy, a 2022 summer associate in Foley’s San Diego office. In this conversation, Danny reflects on growing-up in Corona, CA, attending UC San Diego for undergrad and USC Gould School of Law. Danny reflects on growing up in the Egyptian community, his initial focus on being a doctor, and then a JAG officer. Danny shares why he decided to pivot, and after a 1L summer...

This episode features Aleyda Castro, a 2022 summer associate in Foley’s New York office. In this conversation, Aleyda reflects on growing-up in the Westlake/MacArthur Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, attending Wesleyan University for undergrad and attending University of California, Law Angeles – School of Law. Aleyda also shares her experience being first generation, growing-up in a predominatel...

This episode features Chris DeGennaro, a litigation senior counsel in Foley’s New York office. In this conversation, Chris reflects on growing-up in Blue Bell, PA, attending Colgate University for undergrad and earning his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Chris reflects on his path to Foley, a path that included serving as an Assistant District Attorney and clerking for a federal distri...

This special edition of The Path & The Practice features the audio from a summer 2022 law school recruiting event featuring a candid discussion between diverse Foley attorneys. The conversation covers what it’s like to be a diverse attorney in Big Law, advice on the early days of one’s legal career, and the OCI/the law firm interview process. Additionally, each attorney reflects on why they chose...

This episode features Chelsea Hilliard a senior counsel in Foley’s Dallas office with a focus on litigation. In this conversation, Chelsea reflects on growing-up in Palos Verdes, CA, earning her undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University as well as her J.D. from Southern’s Dedman School of Law. Chelsea reflects on her path, one that included competitive equestrian in college and navig...

This episode features a conversation with John Litchfield, a labor & employment partner in Foley’s Chicago office., John reflects on growing-up in Floosmoor, IL, attending Miami University for undergrad and earning his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. John shares his path to Foley, one that included earning a master’s degree from The University of Edinburgh, part-time jobs, and e...

This special edition of The Path & The Practice is dedicated to Mental Health Awareness Month. It features a conversation with Jen Patton (Chief Talent Officer), Leigh Riley (Partner, Employee Benefits), and Chris Ward (Partner, Labor & Employment) on attorney mental health and wellbeing. We share stories and experiences navigating difficulties in life, and highlight the many resources Foley & Lar...

This episode features Daljit Doogal, Foley’s Chairman and CEO. Daljit is a corporate partner in Foley’s Detroit office with a practice focused on mergers & acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, and restructuring matters. In this conversation, Daljit reflects on being born in New Delhi, India, and living in London until the age of eight when he and his family immigrated to the U.S. He disc...

This episode features a conversation with Pavan Agarwal. Pavan is a partner in Foley’s Washington, D.C., office with a practice focused on intellectual property litigation and licensing. Pavan is currently Chair of the firm’s Innovative Technology sector and formerly served as Chair of the Intellectual Property Department and member of the Management Committee. In this discussion, Pavan reflects o...

This episode features a conversation with Anne Sekel. Anne is a partner in Foley’s New York office with a practice focused on litigation matters. She serves as the managing partner of the firm's New York office and as the New York office's chair of litigation. In this discussion, Anne reflects on growing-up in Jersey City, New Jersey, attending Columbia University and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of...

This episode features a conversation with Christopher Rasmussen. Chris is a partner in Foley’s Chicago office with a practice focused on transactional matters. In this discussion, Chris reflects on growing-up in Slidell, Louisiana, attending the University of Southern Mississippi and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Chris discusses the many years he spent working as a professional musi...

This episode features a conversation with Dania Abbasi. Dania is a litigation associate in in Foley’s Houston office. In this discussion, Dania reflects on growing-up in San Antonio, Texas, attending the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston Law Center. Dania discusses being born in Karachi, Pakistan, and moving to Texas with her family when she was 3. She looks back on her d...

This episode features a conversation with Nicholas Johnson. Nick is a senior counsel in Foley’s Milwaukee office with a practice focused on environmental law and food-related regulatory matters. In this discussion, he reflects on growing-up in Hudson, WI, attending Northwestern University for undergrad and the University of Illinois College of Law. Nick reflects on adjusting to life in law school...

This episode features a conversation with Felicia O’Connor. Felicia is a senior associate in Foley’s Detroit office with a practice focused on labor & employment. In this discussion, Felicia reflects on growing-up Santa Cruz, CA, attending the University of California, Berkley, and the University of Michigan Law School. Felicia discusses the near-decade that she worked in tech prior to attending l...

This episode features a conversation with Jonathan Israel a partner in Foley’s New York, an experienced labor & employment attorney, and co-chair of Foley’s Sports & Entertainment Industry Team. In this discussion, Jon reflects on growing-up in Palos Verdes, CA, attending Harvard University for undergrad and Columbia Law School. He also reflects on his decision to focus on labor & employment and h...