Jen Patton Featured for New Leadership Role – 'We want to be the best version of ourselves'

Foley & Lardner LLP Chief Operating Officer Jen Patton is featured for her new role in the Law360 Q&A, “Foley & Lardner’s New COO Wants To ‘Champion’ Firm Culture.”

Patton, previously Foley’s Chief Talent Officer, described the firm’s ongoing commitment to its people, how her responsibilities and goals align with Foley’s people-focused approach, and the strong foundation the firm’s core values have laid in support of Foley’s vibrant culture in her interview with Law360.

“We always say, we want to be the best version of ourselves. We’re not trying to be something we’re not, or trying to be someone else,” Patton said, noting she is focused on enhancing what has made Foley successful so far, including the firm’s commitment to aligning services to client needs, advancing innovation, driving operational excellence, and continuing to “champion our unique culture that we think really differentiates the firm.”

“Our culture really revolves around our core values, two of which are our people and clients first, and we really do take those core values seriously,” she said, noting as an example how at Foley, firm leadership meetings and town halls begin with a discussion of a core value and how it can be further implemented throughout the firm.

Asked about her goals going forward, Patton said she wants to continue investing in Foley’s people and talent-focused initiatives in furtherance of the firm’s strategic plan.

“We want to focus on smart and strategic growth,” Patton continued, acknowledging the competitive legal landscape. “We want to focus on operational and client service excellence and delivering an even better client experience, both internally and externally, and that’s through assessing innovative technologies and AI and how we can better implement those tools here at the firm.”

“Ultimately we just want to keep evolving, be more innovative, move more quickly, move the firm forward all while staying true to who we are and to that culture that I talked about,” she added.

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