From the end of the school year to the beginning of vacation season and the rise of warm weather activities, the transition from spring to summer is one of the busiest times of the year! We thank you for taking a moment to catch up on the latest news from Faegre Drinker and our alumni.

We encourage you to subscribe to Alumni News & Events, share what’s new with you in our LinkedIn alumni group, or email us at alumni@faegredrinker.com. Let us know what you think of this latest edition and how we can better serve your needs as alumni. Our inbox is always open.

Our People

In the Spotlight with Kate Pytlewski

This edition’s spotlight is on former Philadelphia corporate Associate Kate Pytlewski. Read our Q&A to find out why she says Faegre Drinker will always feel like home — and how she’s working to embrace and expand the AI-powered future of the legal profession.

Alumni News & Moves

From professional anniversaries and promotions to presidential appointments, book publications and other years-in-the-making milestones, your personal and professional accomplishments continue to inspire us all. Read our deep dive into the latest news and moves from our global network. 

New Faces

We are glad to welcome several new colleagues to the Faegre Drinker family:

• Jeremy Andrews | Partner, Business Litigation, London
• Michael Baxter | Partner, Corporate, Philadelphia
• Berglind Halldórsdóttir Birkland | Counsel, Business Litigation, Minneapolis
• Heather Burke | Partner, Business Litigation, San Francis
• Steven Francis | Partner, Insurance, London
• Wagma Gharwal | Counsel, Finance & Restructuring, Minneapolis
• Greg Mitchell | Partner, Intellectual Property, New York
• Tom Pack | Partner, Product Liability & Mass Torts, San Francisco
• Holly Peay | Senior Director, Government & Regulatory, Washington, D.C.
• Beata Spuhler | Counsel, Government & Regulatory, Washington, D.C.
• Michael Stark | Partner, Product Liability & Mass Torts, Washington, D.C.
• Barrett Tenbarge | Partner, Government & Regulatory, Washington, D.C.
• Dan Wilson | Partner, Government & Regulatory, Washington, D.C.

Retirements

As new friends joined us, we also had to say goodbye to several close friends and colleagues over the past few months. Please join us in sending our best wishes to those who recently retired from the firm:

• Laura Carlson (Private Client), Partner, Minneapolis
• Angie Castille (Corporate), Senior Counsel, Washington, D.C.
• Charles Congdon (Corporate), Senior Counsel, Philadelphia
• Richard Duncan (Business Litigation), Partner, Minneapolis
• Delmar Ehrich (Product Liability & Mass Torts), Partner, Minneapolis
• Doug Heffernan (Benefits & Executive Compensation), Senior Counsel, Minneapolis
• Michael Malloy (Investment Management), Partner, Philadelphia
• Kathi Murphy (Government & Regulatory), Partner, Chicago
• Charles (Chip) Parks (Private Client), Senior Counsel, Minneapolis
• David Shannon (Private Client), Partner, Minneapolis
• Mark Voigtmann (Construction & Real Estate Litigation), Partner, Indianapolis
• Scott Wright (Labor & Employment), Partner, Minneapolis

What Else Is Happening?

General Firm News

Faegre Drinker UK Attorneys Honored for Pro Bono Efforts

11 London-based attorneys were recognized in the 2025 publication of the “Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales.” The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, is the Patron of the Pro Bono Recognition List, which recognizes barristers and solicitors who gave 25 hours or more of pro bono legal assistance over the last year.

2024 Pro Bono Award Recipients Announced

Faegre Drinker's Executive Leadership Team announced the recipients of the firm's 2024 Pro Bono Awards and Pro Bono Service Moment of the Year Awards in February. The Faegre Drinker Pro Bono Award recognizes individuals and teams for providing or supporting exceptional pro bono legal services. The Pro Bono Service Moment of the Year Award honors acts of kindness, generosity and selfless service that often happen behind the scenes and under the radar but exemplify the firm's core value of service to others and fuel our pro bono program.

2025 Leadership Transitions, Board Elections at Faegre Drinker

Faegre Drinker announced its 2025 board elections in early April. Mike Abbott, Caryn Glawe and Aaron Van Oort have been elected, and John D’Andrea re-elected, to the Faegre Drinker board for four-year terms that began on April 1, 2025. Josh Deringer joined the board in Fall 2024. Read more about our new board members — along with practice group, industry team and office leadership appointments — on the firm website.

Minnesota Lawyer Honors Life and Legacy of Debbie Ellingboe as a 2024 ‘Attorney of the Year’

The Minnesota Lawyer named late business litigation practice group leader Debbie Ellingboe a 2024 “Attorneys of the Year” honoree. The recognition focuses on those who have influenced the direction of the law, whose leadership in the community is pervasive and whose respect within the bar is undeniable. Minnesota Lawyer honored Debbie with a profile that highlighted the positive influence she had over the careers of so many lawyers during her nearly 30-year career. The publication said, “As skilled and committed to her trial work as Ellingboe was, those who had the privilege to work with her said she devoted as much if not more time to helping others develop their legal careers.”

Firm Named to BTI’s ‘Most Recommended’ List

BTI Consulting released its BTI Most Recommended Law Firms 2025: Unlocking the #1 Source of Law Firm Growth report, listing Faegre Drinker as one of 23 law firms recommended by clients. The report sections the client-recommended law firms for nine key industries including high tech, big pharma, financial services, food/agritech, oil & gas and banks.

As always, we are proud to share the news and achievements of our talented attorneys and consultants. And we are continually honored to have the support of former colleagues and long-standing friends like you.

Thank you.