Foley & Lardner LLP

Foley & Lardner is a Milwaukee-headquartered law firm with approximately 1,100 attorneys and offices across the United States. Founded in 1842, Foley is one of the oldest law firms in the country and has built nationally recognized practices in intellectual property, healthcare, and technology transactions. The firm generates profits per partner of approximately $2.9 million and holds the #1 ranking for patent prosecution in the United States, a position it has maintained through deep technical expertise and a team of attorneys with advanced science and engineering degrees.

Foley holds top-tier rankings in Chambers USA for Intellectual Property, Healthcare, and Corporate/M&A. The firm's patent prosecution practice is the largest and most recognized in the country, filing more patents than any other law firm. Its healthcare practice advises hospitals, health systems, and life sciences companies on regulatory compliance, transactions, and litigation. Foley's technology transactions group handles complex licensing, SaaS agreements, and digital commerce matters. The firm also maintains strong energy, private equity, and sports law practices, its sports industry team represents professional teams, leagues, and athletes.

Foley uses a free-market assignment system. The firm looks for candidates with entrepreneurial drive, collaboration skills, and leadership potential. Interviewers recommend talking to people who previously summered at the firm and learning about specific offices, since each location has its own culture. Authenticity matters in the interview, the firm values genuine connection over rehearsed answers. Associates report that reaching out to attorneys beforehand and demonstrating real interest in the firm's work goes a long way. The summer program emphasizes hands-on experience and mentorship.

Foley's Midwest identity and patent prosecution dominance give it a distinctive position in the market. The firm's technical depth in IP, with dozens of attorneys holding PhDs in fields ranging from electrical engineering to molecular biology, creates a capability that generalist firms cannot easily replicate. For students with STEM backgrounds who want to practice patent law at the highest level, or for those drawn to healthcare and technology work in a collegial Midwestern culture, Foley offers a compelling and differentiated platform.