Jeanne M. Gills, a Partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, is renowned for her unparalleled commitment to intellectual property (IP) litigation and strategic IP management. Her strategic acumen and dedication to her clients have established her as a national leader in the field.
Jeanne’s background reflects a lifelong immersion in math and science, inspired by her father, who earned a Ph.D. in math and held engineering positions at AT&T and NASA. Her academic journey began with a major in electrical engineering at Michigan State University, where she contemplated further studies in a master’s or Ph.D. program or pursuing business school.
A pivotal internship at 3M, where she worked with the company’s in-house patent lawyers, sparked her fascination with the intersection of law and science. This experience solidified her decision to pursue a career in IP law, laying the groundwork for her diverse and impactful IP practice.
Witnessing her father’s mentorship and being supported by senior leaders in her own career, Jeanne values the importance of mentorship and relationship-building. She attributes much of her success as an IP litigator and strategist to her ability to develop and leverage personal and professional connections.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between Fortunes Time and Jeanne M. Gills:
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
Foley & Lardner LLP (“Foley”) opened its first office in Milwaukee in 1842, six years before Wisconsin became a state. Over nearly two centuries we have grown to a firm of 1,100 lawyers across 26 offices worldwide. While much has changed, some things stay the same: We continue to provide trusted legal and business advice to some of the world’s top brands, with a particular focus on energy, health care and life sciences, innovative technology, and manufacturing.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
My passion and drive come from my father. As a young girl, I watched him fight racism to get his Ph.D. in mathematics, as one of the first Black men to do so at LSU. As a Black female engineer and member of senior management at an AmLaw 50 law firm, I overcame (and still tackle) obstacles every step of the way. I am grateful for those challenges — they make me more humble, resourceful, resilient, creative, and adaptive.
Which are the major services of the company and how do the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide
Foley is a preeminent law firm that partners with clients on the full range of engagements from corporate counsel to intellectual property work and litigation support, providing them with a one-team solution to all their needs. We look beyond the law to understand the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and their industries, enabling us to act as trusted business advisors to deliver creative, practical, and effective business solutions. Through hundreds of candid interviews with clients, we’ve learned first-hand how they define service and value, so we can cater to exactly what they want when they want it.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?Some of our firm’s values that stand out to me are our commitment to our clients, our people, and diversity. Those values are likewise at the heart of my own core team of 60+ lawyers and professionals spanning multiple offices and disciplines at Foley “Team Impossible” — which has as its motto, “If we support each other professionally and personally, Impossible is Nothing!” It comes from a notion that we all have the power to effect change and do great things and that when we invest in each other, even miracles can be achieved. Team Impossible is a reflection of how a team that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion, is also a team that can outperform any opponent. Part of my lasting legacy is Team Impossible and the inspiration behind it as well as in organizations that I have created or co-founded that have fostered a more diverse and inclusive legal community (e.g., Chicago Black Partners Alliance and Black Patent Network — organizations devoted to making the legal community, and the patent legal community specifically, more inclusive via the recruitment, retention, and promotion of Black attorneys).
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
As an IP lawyer, innovation is at the core of my practice. For businesses, innovation is crucial for (1) developing unique products, services, or processes that attract customers and create a competitive edge; (2) adapting to changing consumer needs and technological advancements; (3) opening up new markets or creating new revenue streams; and (4) streamlining operations to reduce costs and increase productivity.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?Without question, every company needs strong and committed leaders who listen, but who also inspire. Through Team Impossible, we inspire one another to be authentic and the best versions of ourselves, while also supporting each other. Through collaboration and teamwork, we not only help clients better achieve their objectives, but also foster a nurturing and creative environment within the law firm.
Team building and leveraging one’s relationship should extend beyond one’s own organization. I continuously develop my network of top legal and business minds outside of Foley, nurture those relationships, and utilize my connections to help others, whether via mentoring, collaboration sessions, or hosting exclusive social events throughout the year to drive introductions and inspire innovation.
What are your responsibilities in your position in the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?I serve as a daily trusted legal advisor and relationship partner to nearly 70 corporate and nonprofit clients for whom I protect and defend their valuable IP in court, as well as help craft their overall intellectual property strategy. I serve as lead trial counsel for complex IP litigation and appeals, including “bet-the-company” matters with more than $500 million at stake. My ability to manage risk and opportunities has dovetailed into my role leading the IP portion of major M&A transactions, some valued in the several billions.
My experiences have paved the way for leadership, including roles as a member and immediate past chair of the firm’s Compensation Committee; former member of Foley’s governing Management Committee; national vice chair of the Intellectual Property Department, where I guide strategic marketing and business development; former co-chair of the firm’s IP Litigation Practice Group; and founder of the firm’s first African-American Affinity Group over 25 years ago.
As one of the few first-chair Black patent litigators in the country and as a female equity partner in a large law firm who benefited greatly from my own mentors, I take my duty to give back to my community very seriously. I am committed to paying it forward and developing the next generation of legal talent, as others did for me early in my career. My unique perspective on the added pressures and roadblocks in front of Black female attorneys motivates me to carve out time to mentor others, wherever they are on their paths to advancement. As a single mother to an adopted Black male, I have especially enjoyed mentoring women on work-life balance and the joys of adoption by reinforcing multitasking, managing stress, and pivoting — qualities that any company should want in an attorney handling complex and challenging matters.
Helping my in-house clients grow professionally is also a passion. I have sourced qualified candidates for open counsel and general counsel positions and have outplaced client contacts making their next career move.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
“Do what you like with people you like.” When you build a career grounded in doing things that you love, that inspire and motivate you, and when you similarly surround yourself with people you respect, who hold you accountable, make you better, and whose company you genuinely enjoy, success can only follow. With success comes the opportunity to lead and inspire others.
