Faegre Drinker Announces 2026 Leadership Transitions

Faegre Drinker is pleased to announce several leadership appointments.

Board Appointments

Effective January 1, 2026

Denver corporate partner Jeff Sherman has been elected to the board. Sherman brings extensive experience advising clients through mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions and advising growing companies through their governance and SEC compliance issues. He previously served as a deputy leader of the firm’s corporate practice group.

Effective April 1, 2026

New York City finance and restructuring partner Laura Appleby has been elected to the board. Appleby represents clients in all aspects of complex bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court restructurings, and distressed transactions. She previously served as the firm’s New York City office leader.

Washington, D.C. government and regulatory partner Libby Baney Burstein has been re-elected to the board. Burstein counsels clients on policies and issues related to pharmacy law, direct-to-consumer and online sales of medicine, and related patient safety issues. 

Philadelphia investment management partner Joshua Deringer has been re-elected to the board. Deringer advises US and international financial services firms across all aspects of the investment management industry, using an innovative approach to expanding retail access to alternative investments and structuring complex fund products. He serves as the leader of the firm’s retail alternatives fund team.

Minneapolis corporate partner Jonathan Zimmerman has been re-elected to the board. Zimmerman advises on securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance for both private and publicly held clients, as well as investment banks. He serves at the leader of the firm’s global capital markets team. 

Sector Leaders

Effective January 1, 2026

Financial Services: New York City partner Mike Pompeo will become leader of the firm's financial services sector. He formerly led the firm’s finance and restructuring group and has over 25 years of experience representing financial services clients, including banks, insurance companies, private equity and hedge funds, financial advisory firms and other financial institutions.

Food & Agribusiness: Denver partner Gretchen Miller Busch will become leader of the firm's food and agribusiness sector. Miller Busch advises leading global food and agribusiness companies on legal, regulatory and business objectives, with an emphasis on corporate real estate services. She has prior experience co-leading Faegre Drinker’s national food and agribusiness industry team and is a former member of the firm’s board.

Health & Life Sciences: Washington, D.C. partner Maureen Hardwick will become leader of the firm's health and life sciences sector. Hardwick provides strategic, legal and business advice to global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies to advance regulatory, policy, scientific and research objectives. 

Manufacturing: Minneapolis partner Steven Kennedy will become leader of the firm's manufacturing sector. Kennedy counsels corporations and their directors on securities law, corporate governance and significant corporate matters. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and private equity and venture capital investments. 

Technology: Minneapolis partner Jim Steffen will become leader of the firm's technology sector. Steffen partners with clients to protect and enhance their brand assets through comprehensive trademark, advertising and marketing law strategies. 

Practice Group Leaders

Effective April 1, 2026

Finance & Restructuring: Florham Park partner Frank Velocci will succeed Mike Pompeo as leader of the firm's finance and restructuring group. Velocci resolves disputes for clients through litigation and arbitration in real estate, telecommunications, health care, prerogative writ, legal malpractice and business tort matters. He represents debtors, trustees, committees and secured creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Insurance: Philadelphia partner Nolan Tully will succeed Steve Serfass as leader of the firm's insurance group. Tully advocates for insurance and financial services clients facing challenges in various aspects of their businesses. He assists life, long-term care and disability insurers as well as annuity issuers with product development, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution and litigation.

Intellectual Property: Denver partner Jared Briant will succeed Jim Steffen as leader of the firm's intellectual property group. Briant works closely with the firm’s clients in the technology, consumer products, and medical device industries. As an experienced intellectual property litigator and trial lawyer, Briant has secured numerous victories in copyright, trademark, trade secret and false advertising cases in federal and state courts nationwide.

General Counsel  

Effective April 1, 2026

Office of the General Counsel: Effective April 1, 2026, Philadelphia labor and employment partner David Woolf will succeed Bill Roberts as Faegre Drinker’s general counsel. Woolf will lead the firm’s Office of General Counsel, overseeing all legal matters affecting the firm and advising on ethics and professional responsibility, conflicts of interest, compliance, governance, and risk management.

Office Leaders

Washington, D.C.: Effective January 1, 2026, intellectual property partner Tore DeBella will succeed Maureen Hardwick as Washington, D.C. office leader. DeBella counsels clients and litigates disputes relating to intellectual property and advertising and marketing practices.

Florham Park: Effective April 1, 2026, business litigation partner Sandy Grannum will succeed Frank Velocci as the Florham Park office leader. Grannum concentrates on securities law and the securities industry. She represents issuers, officers and directors, banks, brokerage firms, investment banks, hedge funds, registered investment advisors, investment bankers, brokers, and advisers.

New York: Effective April 1, 2026, labor and employment partner Erika Collins will succeed Laura Appleby as the New York City office leader. Collins partners with multinational clients to handle their most complex cross-border employment and human resources needs. She serves as the co-leader of the firm’s international employment team.