Anthony Froio Elected Chair of Board, Managing Partner of Robins Kaplan
By Lawdragon News | March 22, 2024 | Press Releases
Minneapolis, MN – March 12, 2024 – Robins Kaplan, a leading national trial law firm, today announced that Anthony Froio has been elected chair of the Executive Board and Managing Partner, unifying two pivotal leadership roles. The co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy practice, Froio has served as Managing Partner of Robins Kaplan’s Boston office for 20 years. In his new roles, he succeeds Ronald Schutz, who has chaired the firm’s Executive Board since 2019, and Steven Schumeister, who has served as Managing Partner of the firm since 1997.
“A vital contributor to our growth and success for nearly 30 years, Tony embodies the values of excellence and client service that have always driven Robins Kaplan,” said Schutz, who oversaw a year-long effort to plan the leadership transition at Robins Kaplan. "His experience makes him uniquely qualified to lead Robins Kaplan, and his open and transparent leadership style will make him highly effective."
Froio, who has practiced at Robins Kaplan since 1994 and held a seat on the Executive Board since 2016, becomes just the fifth partner to serve as chair of Robins Kaplan in the firm’s 85-year history. In his practice, he has represented Fortune 100 companies and others in complex commercial litigation, restructuring and bankruptcy litigation, claims of patent and trademark infringement, and brand protection and food-labeling issues. He has led and overseen the growth of the Boston office’s practices and attorneys over the last two decades, and its current move into a state-of-the-art office space in the Prudential Building in the Back Bay of Boston.
“I have been honored to practice at our firm for almost 30 years —and now, am honored and humbled to lead—a law firm with a rich tradition of history-making trial victories that have had a significant impact on many of our clients, while changing entire industries for the better and in the interests of justice,” said Froio. “Robins Kaplan has a clear identity as a premier trial firm in the country. I am excited to carry on that legacy and embrace our character as an inclusive and forward-thinking trial firm.”
In addition to Froio’s appointment, the firm announced that Jake Holdreith will become the managing partner of the firm’s Minneapolis office and James Kitces will succeed Froio as the managing partner of the Boston office. "Jake and James will be instrumental in driving our strategic goals," Froio added. “Each of them brings proven leadership qualities, strong visions, and the respect of their colleagues to their new positions.”
Robins Kaplan also announced several updates to its Executive Board. Melissa D’Alelio, chair of the firm’s National Insurance and Catastrophic Loss practice, has been reappointed for a second term on the Board. In addition, Michael Collyard and Brendan Johnson, chair of the firm’s National Business Litigation practice, have been elected to the Board, and Patrick Arenz has been appointed to join them. Schutz and Schumeister will continue their service on the Executive Board, alongside their active roles in litigation and commercial practices.
About Robins Kaplan LLP®
Robins Kaplan is among the nation’s premier trial law firms, with more than 225 lawyers located in Bismarck, N.D.; Boston; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New York; Silicon Valley; and Sioux Falls, S.D. The firm litigates, mediates, and arbitrates high-stakes, complex disputes, repeatedly earning national recognition. Firm clients include—as both plaintiffs and defendants—numerous Fortune 500 corporations, emerging markets companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals.
