New Developments at HB

Our commitment to our clients, our people, and diversity, equity, and inclusion is at our core. Husch Blackwell invests in talent and infrastructure to provide clients with uncommon solutions to their most complex challenges. The firm also ensures our team members have the support they need and deserve to achieve well-being as we pursue excellence. Here are some highlights of our efforts since the Spring Newsletter.

Executive Leadership Update

Jen Locklear Tapped as CPO – Jen Locklear was named the firm’s first Chief People Officer in May. She brings two decades of experience specializing in employee relations, organizational development, and compensation and benefits design. In her role, Jen will serve as a key member of Husch Blackwell’s leadership team and have responsibilities for leading all human resources initiatives and strategies across the firm. Her leadership will ensure Husch Blackwell remains committed to excellence in all aspects of its operations, while guiding the firm’s talent practices, cultivating its culture, and driving our people-first approach. Learn more about Jen in Law360.

Firm Accolades

The American Lawyer has named the firm a finalist in four categories in its annual Industry Awards:

• Best Client-Law Firm Team: Vanderbilt and Husch Blackwell
• Corporate Culture & Wellbeing: Power of You firmwide retreat
• Legal Service Innovation Award: Artificial Intelligence
• Young Lawyer of the Year—Litigation: Michael Raupp

This year’s honorees will be recognized at The American Lawyer’s annual gala on November 13 in New York City. In the past few months, the firm was also recognized:

• By BTI Consulting Group as an elite litigation firm.
• As the number 1 healthcare law firm for the second year in a row by both the American Health Law Association (AHLA) and the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Health Law Section.
• By the National Legal Aid & Defender Association with a 2024 Beacon of Justice Award.
• Among the top 25 “Best Law Firms for Women and Diversity” by Seramount.
• In Bloomberg Law’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Framework, a listing of those law firms that meet or exceed an established threshold of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• As an Ingram’s Best Companies to Work For honoree.

Additionally, our attorneys and practices were recognized by respected third parties:

• The Best Lawyers in America® listed 258 HB lawyers in its 2025 edition, including 12 attorneys who have been named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective areas and 22 attorneys who were recognized for the first time. Also, 156 HB lawyers are included in its “Ones to Watch” listing, 14 of whom were listed for the first time.
• Chambers USA recognized 87 HB attorneys in its 2024 guide, an increase of 14 ranked attorneys from 2023. In addition, 15 lawyers who did not appear in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA earned rankings. Chambers also ranked HB in 39 departments spanning 17 of the firm’s practice areas, with the firm’s Energy & Natural Resources, Higher Education, and Insurance practices earning national rankings for the first time.
• The Legal 500 United States 2024 recommended HB as a “Top Tier Firm” in Education for the fourth consecutive year and recommended the firm in 15 additional practice areas. Additionally, the firm earned “Firms to Watch,” “Leading Lawyers,” and “Leading Associates” distinctions.
• IFLR 1000 United States recognized the firm nationally for Project development: Energy and Financial services regulatory. The firm also earned nine state jurisdictional rankings and had 14 of its attorneys recognized individually.
• Benchmark Litigation named 16 partners to the 2024 Benchmark 40 and Under List.
• Construction Executive magazine listed HB in its sixth annual Top 50 Construction Law Firms™. Overall, the firm placed third in the rankings.

Attorney Promotions

The firm has elected 30 attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2025. This year’s partner class reflects the firm’s never-ending pursuit of better ways to serve its clients, colleagues, and communities. The addition of these partners strengthens our firm’s ability to deliver legal solutions across its practices areas and its clients’ industries.

Our firm also elevated seven attorneys to the position of senior counsel, effective January 1, 2025. These attorneys demonstrate the deep industry knowledge and understanding of client challenges that are crucial to the firm’s continued success. The 2025 Husch Blackwell senior counsel class includes Erin Burns, Molly Dugan, Liz LaFoe Frederick, Samantha Gugliuzza, Shayan Heidarzadeh, Jameson Sauseda, and Alaina Zermeno.

Lateral Hires (April 1 - September 30, 2024)

Client Successes

Our talented teams continue to move client goals forward. Among their recent accomplishments, they:

• Guided a consortium of orthopedic practices—The Orthopedic Institute of Wisconsin—in the roll up and sale of 14 Wisconsin-based groups and two ambulatory surgery – Husch Blackwell led the deal, which brings broad network access and value to patients and physicians through a consolidated delivery model that will provide improved quality and better access to care in a more affordable manner. Learn more.
• Secured an appellate win in a dispute over the distribution Ponzi recoveries – Husch Blackwell prevailed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on behalf of Gregory S. Milligan, the court-appointed receiver, in a dispute with two investor groups who challenged how the receiver’s distribution plan allocated recovered funds among claimants. The distribution plan came on the heels of one of the largest securities fraud recovery projects in U.S. history following the successful prosecution of defendants Kevin B. Merrill, Jay B. Ledford, and Cameron R. Jezierski by the U.S. government. Learn more.
• Represented Swift Current in securing tax equity investment from Google – Husch served as developer’s counsel to Swift Current in closing a tax equity investment from Google for the Double Black Diamond Solar project, an 800 MWdc (593 MWac) facility located 30 miles west of Springfield, Illinois. Double Black Diamond Solar is expected to be the largest solar project east of the Mississippi River and the second-largest single-phase solar project in the U.S. once it comes online in early 2025. Learn more.
• Secured summary judgment in international transportation dispute – Husch Blackwell secured summary judgment in the Central District of California on behalf of Best Bay Logistics in an international transportation dispute over stolen cargo during the domestic leg of the shipment. Unbeknownst to all parties, the truck driver who arrived at B612 Freight Forwarder’s warehouse was not an employee of the motor carrier, but rather an imposter who had successfully obtained the motor carrier’s credentials. Learn more.

HB Footprint

• The firm opened a Nashville office in the heart of the Music City
• The Boston office relocated in April 2024 and remained downtown

READ THE FALL 2024 NEWSLETTER >