Senior Management Team | Fox Rothschild LLP

Senior Management Team

Paul Straub | Chief Operating Officer
Jean A. Durling | Chief Talent Officer
Edward Gillespie | Chief Financial Officer
Suzanne Homel | Chief Administrative Services Officer
Tricia M. Lilley | Chief Marketing Officer
Catherine M. Monte | Chief Knowledge Officer
Michael Rinehart | Chief Technology Officer
Felicia Smith | Chief Human Resources Officer
John J. Stubbs | Chief Information Management and Compliance Officer

Paul Straub

Paul Straub | Chief Operating Officer
pstraub@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.3837

Paul manages the day to day operations of the firm working directly and collaboratively with the firm's Administrative Partner, Office Managing Partners and Senior Management. Specific responsibilities include:

  • Advising all senior management on the financial implications of current or prospective business activities
  • Development of operating policies and continuous improvement programs
  • Evaluation of growth opportunities in alignment with the firm's strategic plan
  • Analysis and expertise around mergers, acquisitions and integration of talent
  • Identification and implementation of solutions that improve operational efficiencies while providing superior service to our clients

Education

  • B.S., Accounting, University of Delaware

Memberships

  • Member of the Association of Legal Administrators
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants


back to top

gold line

Jean A. Durling

Jean A. Durling | Chief Talent Officer
jdurling@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2808

Jean has responsibility for the Firm's Professional Recruitment, Professional Development and Human Resources departments. She provides strategic advice to the Firm's leadership on the development of personnel and hiring policies that will allow the Firm to recruit and retain the most talented attorneys and staff. Jean also works to ensure that the recruiting, retention, diversity, professional development, benefits and staff administration policies and programs are integrated and aligned to support the Firm's strategic agenda.

Education

  • B.S., Accounting, Miami University
  • SPHR Certification, Human Resources Certification Institute
  • Professional Resource Management Certification, Villanova University
  • Paralegal Certification, Litigation Management, The Philadelphia Institute

Memberships

  • National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
  • Legal Recruitment Administrators of Philadelphia (LRAP)
  • Professional Development Consortium (PDC)

Speaking Engagements

  • "Pathways to Leadership: The Road to the Top: Getting There and Bringing Others Along With You," NALP Annual Education Conference (April 18, 2012)
  • "Professional Development: Got Staff?," NALP Annual Education Conference (April 17, 2008)
  • "Managing an Efficient and Effective Professional Development Team," NALP/ALI-ABA Professional Development Institute (December 8, 2006)
  • "At the Intersection of Knowledge Management and Associate Development: Using Technology to Train Business Lawyers," ABA Section of Business Law Spring Meeting (April 6, 2006)
  • "Dressing for Success," National Black Law Student Association Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference (January 21, 2006)

Publications

  • "Life Imitating Law Firms or Law Firms Imitating Life," Summer Associates, A Supplement to The LegalIntelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly (June 2004)


back to top

gold line

Edward Gillespie

Edward Gillespie | Chief Financial Officer
egillespie@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2192

Ed is responsible for the management of the firm's finances and financial operations, including:

  • billing function
  • collections
  • financial forecasting
  • analysis
  • reporting

He has been in the field of law firm management since 1986.

Education

  • M.B.A., Finance, Temple University
  • B.B.A., Accounting, Temple University

Memberships

  • Member of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA)


back to top

gold line

Suzanne Homel

Suzanne Homel | Chief Administrative Services Officer
shomel@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2739

Suzanne's responsibilities include:

  • management of the firm's physical assets
  • coordinating non-legal support services
  • movement of personnel and equipment within and among the firm's offices
  • coordinating the physical integration of new offices and residents
  • procurement of systems to improve administrative functions
  • working with all Office Administrators with respect to facilities and administrative services

Suzanne has served as a panel member at various local, regional, and national ALA conferences and speaks on HR issues and general law firm operations.

Education

  • Human Resources Certificate, Cornell University
  • Coursework, Community College of Philadelphia

Memberships

  • Association of Legal Administrators (ALA)
  • Advisory Board Member of Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls

Publications

  • Co-author, ALA Vendor Relations Toolkits for Vendors and Members (available at www.ala.org)


back to top

gold line

Tricia M. Lilley

Tricia M. Lilley | Chief Marketing Officer
tlilley@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2003

Trish oversees the firm's marketing and business development function. With more than 20 years of experience in the legal industry, she serves as a strategic counselor to firm leadership and attorneys on best practices involving business development, brand-building initiatives, media and community relations, communications and marketing.

Education

  • B.A., Journalism - School of Communications & Theater, Temple University
  • Graduate courses in Leadership, Communications and Public Policy Analysis - Rutgers Center for Executive Leadership in Government, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Graduate courses in Irish politics, history and literature - Center for Irish Studies, The Catholic University of America

Community & Professional Activities

  • Founding Member, Legal Marketing Association, Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter
  • Chair, Marketing Committee, IMPACT 2012 Venture Summit Mid-Atlantic Conference
  • Member, Marketing Committee, Southern New Jersey Development Council
  • Member, Marketing Committee, I2N – Ideas x Innovation Network
  • Tutor, Irish Academy of Public Relations, New York, NY and Dublin, Ireland
  • Leader, Junior Troop 62425, Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey

Memberships

  • Member, American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section
  • Member, Public Relations Society of America, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Chapters


back to top

gold line

Catherine M. Monte

Catherine M. Monte | Chief Knowledge Officer
cmonte@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2140

Catherine manages both knowledge management and research initiatives within the firm.  Her responsibilities include:

  • practice support
  • risk management
  • portal development
  • taxonomy integration

Education

  • M.L.S., Columbia University
  • B.A., Haverford College

Memberships

  • American Association of Law Libraries
  • Greater Philadelphia Law Library Association (board member, 2001-2003)
  • International Legal Technology Association (Vice President KM Peer Group, 2005-present)

Publications

  • ILTA KM webinar Social Network Analysis: Bibliography (November 2006)
  • ILTA KM White Paper: "A Guide to Collaboration Tools" (May 2006)
  • ILTA Peer to Peer Magazine (regular contributor, 2005-present)

Presentations

  • "Expert Databases: Leveraging for Success," Special Libraries Association 2009 Annual Conference (June 15, 2009)
  • "Enterprise Content Management (ECM)," International Legal Technology Association Conference (August 26, 2008)
  • "Knowledge Management Staffing Structures in Law Firms," Special Libraries Association Annual Conference (June 17, 2008)
  • "Establishing a Foundation for KM through Taxonomy Development & Database Integration," K Group: Best Practices and Management Strategies for Legal Library and Information Service Centers (February 21, 2007)
  • "Mergers and Acquisitions Panel," ARK Group: Best Practices and Management Strategies for Legal Library and Information Service Centers (February 21, 2007)
  • "Cultural and Change Management Issues of KM: Case Studies," ILTA 2006 Annual Conference (August 24, 2006)
  • "Measuring Impact: Cost Justification for Information Services," AALL Annual Conference (July 10, 2006)
  • "Knowledge Management Peer Group Intro: KM 101," ILTA webinar (April, 22, 2006)
  • "The Intersection of Knowledge Management and Associate Development," American Bar Association Business Law Section's Spring Meeting (April 6, 2006)


back to top

gold line

Michael Rinehart

Michael Rinehart | Chief Technology Officer
mrinehart@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2728

Michael is responsible for leadership and management of the firm's Information Services Department and directs the development, implementation, support and use of the firm's information and technology systems. He continually assesses the firm's technology needs to meet and exceed client needs and recommends practical, cost-effective solutions that offer improved service and functionality.

Education

  • B.S., Drexel University

Board of Governors

  • Conestoga Swim Club

Trainings and Affiliations

  • Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) - Leadership Development Program
  • Apollo Root Cause Analysis certified


back to top

gold line

Felicia Smith

Felicia Smith | Chief Human Resources Officer
fsmith@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2027

Felicia oversees the firm's HR functions by serving as a chief advisor on human capital matters and delivering the management of human resource functions including:

  • developing and implementing HR policies and procedures
  • administering the firm's staff sourcing, recruitment, and orientation process
  • delivering and implementing benefit programs
  • assuring equity and compliance with all applicable federal, state and regional laws
  • providing employee relation services
  • overseeing staff recruiting and talent acquisition
  • directing staff compensation and HR resource management

Education

  • J.D., Widener University School of Law
  • B.S., Business Management, University of Maryland
  • 1st Candidature, Philology & Letters, University of Brussels (Brussels, Belgium)

Memberships

  • Society of Human Resource Management
  • Association of Legal Administrators - National, NY and Florida Chapters
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Delaware County Bar Association


back to top

gold line

John J. Stubbs

John J. Stubbs | Chief Information Management and Compliance Officer jstubbs@foxrothschild.com | 215.299.2752

John is responsible for all records-related activities, the new business intake process, and conflict avoidance and resolution. John's responsibilities include:

  • Records Creation - Indexing and Bar-coding
  • Records Management – Active and Inactive Storage and Tracking
  • Records Retention – Both Physical and Electronic Records
  • Processing of New Business – New Clients and New Matters
  • Risk Management and Conflict Resolution for Clients and Matters
  • Confidentiality and Security of Client Information

Education

  • Certified Records Manager (CRM), Institute of Certified Records Managers
  • Records Management Certificate, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, PA
  • Paralegal Certificate, The PJA School, Upper Darby, PA
  • Electronic Records Management Specialist (ERMS), Association of Information and Image Management

Memberships

  • Association of Information and Image Management (AIIM)
  • Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA International)
  • Diamond State Chapter of ARMA International
  • Liberty Bell Chapter of ARMA International, Board of Directors
  • Liberty Bell Chapter of ARMA International, Webmaster


back to top

gold line