Bio

Thomas Fitzgerald is the former chairman and head of Winston’s Executive Committee. He led the firm from 2006 to June 2024, and under his leadership the firm opened ten offices on three continents and significantly expanded its practice and sector offerings. Over his term as chair, Tom has developed every practice of the firm, including private equity, finance, funds, intellectual property, complex commercial litigation, and real estate. He also advanced the firm’s efforts in the financial services, technology, energy, and life sciences sectors, and has led several client initiatives. Tom aggressively grew the firm outside of Chicago, opening key offices in both the U.S. and abroad. After launching Winston in Charlotte, Asia, and Houston, in early 2017, Tom engineered the firm’s opening of a new Dallas office by recruiting 60 attorneys from nine different firms. The launch was described as “the biggest shakeup in Dallas legal circles in a very long time” and showcased Tom’s novel approach to opening in a new market. Tom was also responsible for Winston’s launch in Miami with a group of six partners from five different firms in May 2022. Since opening, the office has grown significantly and provides a full range of litigation and transactional services in South Florida. Tom significantly developed Winston’s infrastructure during his tenure. He introduced a centralized resource center (WRC) to be used firmwide for routine office tasks (e.g., proofreading, expense reimbursements, document formatting); modernized the accounting and business development functions; and reimagined the firm’s Talent strategy. For example, under Tom’s leadership Winston launched Winston University, a comprehensive training program for all levels of associates and new partners; adopted a competency-based development framework for associates and professional staff; and instituted coaching, career-development, and well-being resources across the firm. Tom is a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As Chair, he prioritized DEI as one of the firm’s key strategic goals, including creating a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer role to execute the firm’s metrics driven diversity strategy. Similarly, he had a profound impact on the firm’s commitment to pro bono. Over his tenure, the firm’s AmLaw pro bono report ranking rose from 84(2006) to 14 (2023) and pro bono participation of at least 20 hours for every attorney and paralegal rose from 50% to 100%.