The Path & The Practice

This episode features Nicole Strydom, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary at C.H. Robinson. In this conversation, Nicole reflects on her unconventional path to law, including her career as a professional cellist before attending Hamline School of Law. She describes how she began her legal career at a large law firm focusing on securities, capital markets, and corporate governa...

This episode features a conversation with Jared Pliner. Jared is an associate in Foley's Boston office and a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. In this conversation, Jared reflects on growing up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, earning his bachelor's degree in journalism from George Washington University, and later his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. He discusses his caree...

This episode features a conversation with Roland Potts. Roland is a partner in Foley’s Miami Office, Chair of the firm’s International Arbitration Team, and a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. In this conversation, Roland reflects on growing up in Miami, Florida, earning his bachelor’s from the University of Miami, and both an M.B.A. and J.D. from Florida International University...

This episode features a conversation with Lawrence Kraus. Larry is a litigation partner in Foley’s Boston office. He is also the litigation practice group leader for Foley’s Atlantic region (Boston, New York, and D.C.) and National Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. In this conversation, Larry reflects on growing up in the Bronx, attending Brandeis University for undergrad and attending Harva...

This episode features a conversation with Tim Gamache. Tim is a patent agent who recently finished Foley’s summer associate program in the Boston office. In this discussion, Tim reflects on growing up in Gardner, MA, earning her BS in neuroscience from Brown University and his PhD from Johns Hopkins Medical School before starting law school at Northeastern University. Tim reflects on his journey t...

This episode features a conversation with Alice Lee-Dutra. Alice is a senior patent agent in Foley’s San Diego office. In this discussion, Alice reflects on growing up in Los Angeles, CA, attending Harvey Mudd College for undergrad and earning her PhD. From the University of California, Berkeley. Alice reflects on her journey to Foley, including her decade as a scientist at Johnson & Johnson b...

This episode features a conversation with Daniela Valladares. Daniela is a summer associate in Foley’s Chicago office focused on litigation. In this discussion, Daniela reflects on growing up in McAllen, TX, and earning her BA and Masters in accounting from The University of Texas at Austin before attending Texas Tech University School of Law. Daniela reflects on her experience as a summer associa...

This episode features a conversation with John Stillman. John is a summer associate in Foley’s Chicago office focused on litigation. In this discussion, John reflects on growing up in Oak Law, IL, and earning his BA and Masters, in business administration, from the Bradley University before attending the University of Wisconsin Law School and transferring to Notre Dame Law School. John reflects on...

This episode features a conversation with Donavon Lea. Donavon is 2L summer associate in Foley’s Los Angeles office focused on health care. In this discussion, Donovan reflects on growing up in Virginia Beach, VA, and earning his BA and MPH from the University of Virginia before attending UCLA for law school. He reflects on the variety of work experience he gained in undergrad, including serving a...

This episode features a conversation with Peyton Recer. Peyton is a summer associate in Foley’s Tampa office focused on real estate. In this discussion, Peyton reflects on growing up in Windermere, FL, and earning her BA and Master’s degree, in real estate, from the University of Florida before attending University of Miami School of Law. She shares her approach to law school, including how she st...

This episode features a conversation with Tim Casey, General Counsel of Numotion. In this discussion, Tim reflects on growing up in Lindenhurst, IL, and attending Lewis University for undergrad before earning his master’s and then J.D. from Marquette University. He reflects on the early days of being a lawyer, including clerking for a district and circuit court as well as working as an associate a...

This episode features a conversation with Alexis Juergens. Alexis is a senior counsel in Foley’s Salt Lake City office and chair of the firm's associates committee. In this discussion, Alexis reflects on life growing-up in a military family, including a number of moves, before settling in Salt Lake City as a child. She shares her decision to attend Northern Arizona University for undergrad, as a D...

This episode features a conversation with René Jovel, Assistant General Counsel at Versiti Blood Health, Inc. In this discussion, René reflects on growing up in Los Angeles, California, attending Northwestern University for undergrad and Marquette University School of Law. René details his career progression from working in a state senator’s office as a constituent services representative, to join...

This episode features a conversation with Chanley Howell. Chanley is a partner and intellectual property lawyer in Foley’s Jacksonville office where his practice focuses on a broad range of technology law matters. In this discussion, he reflects on growing up in Jacksonville, FL, attending Vanderbilt University for undergrad and the University of Florida College of Law. Chanley shares his path to...

This episode features a conversation with Jesse Neil. Jesse is a healthcare attorney in Foley’s Nashville office. In this discussion, he reflects on growing-up in Nashville, TN, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergrad and the University of Mississippi School of Law. Jesse shares his personal journey, including working as an assistant attorney general and spending ne...

This episode features a conversation with Joseph Dowdy. Joe is a litigator and the managing partner of Foley’s Raleigh office. In this discussion, he reflects on growing-up on farm in Powells Point, NC, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergrad and the University of North Carolina School of Law. Joe details his legal journey, including the pivotal years he spent servi...

This episode features a conversation with Casey Knapp. Casey is a partner in Foley’s executive compensation and employee benefits group. She is also vice chair of the firm’s Business Law Department and chair of the firm’s Best Self Committee. In this discussion, she reflects on growing up in Mequon, WI, earning her undergraduate degree from Sweet Briar College and subsequently attending Washington...

In this special edition of The Path & The Practice, Alexis is joined by Dan Sharpe, DEI Manager at Foley & Lardner, for a conversation focused on advice to new associates. Based on their years of legal practice and their experience working in law firm talent development and DEI, they cover a variety of topics including time entry, meeting deadlines, responsiveness, and office presence. They also d...

This episode features a conversation with Michael Small a restructuring and litigation partner in Foley’s Chicago office. In this discussion, he reflects on growing-up in Kansas City, Missouri, attending Brown University for undergrad and earning his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law. Michael also discusses his experience earning his Master’s from The Jewish Theological Seminary and his deci...

This special edition of The Path & The Practice welcomes members of Foley’s Veterans & Allies Affinity Group, Patrick McMahon (Senior Counsel, Labor & Employment, Chicago), Alexa Goldstein (Associate, Litigation, Tampa), and Rashad Abdallah ( Associate, Labor & Employment, San Diego). Representing three branches of the United States Armed Forces (Airforce, Army, and Navy), Patrick, Alexa, and Rash...

This episode features a conversation with Marshall Keen a summer associate in Foley’s Dallas office. In this discussion, he reflects on growing-up in Blanchard, Louisiana, earning his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech University and attending SMU Dedman School of Law. Marshall discusses how he completed undergrad in three years and shares why SMU Law was his first choice. He also gives advi...

This episode features a conversation with Chemutai Shiow a summer associate in Foley’s Milwaukee office. In this discussion, she reflects on growing up in Franklin, Wisconsin, earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and subsequently attending the University of Chicago Law School. Tai details her unique path to Foley that included working at Foley for over three ye...

This episode features a conversation with Nandita Raghavan a summer associate in Foley’s Los Angeles office. In this discussion, she reflects on growing up in Pleasanton, California, earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and subsequently attending the USC Gould School of Law. Nandita discusses on her decision to defer attending law school to teach for two year...

This episode features a conversation with Nick Jerschefske a summer associate in Foley’s Milwaukee office. In this discussion, he reflects on growing up in Franklin, Wisconsin, earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus and subsequently attending Marquette University Law School. Nick details the nearly a decade he spent focused on a career in music and the vario...

This episode features a conversation with Randall Carter a summer associate in Foley’s Boston office. In this conversation, he looks back on growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, attending Colgate University for undergrad and attending Harvard Law School, after transferring from Northeastern University School of Law. Randall reflects on the jobs he held before law school, discusses his transitio...