Tom Froehle Explains to Indianapolis Business Journal Why Firms No Longer Designate Headquarters

Historically, large law firms could trace their roots and home location to a specific city. As technology advances, many firms are choosing to operate across multiple locations without designating a headquarters. Faegre Baker Daniels was no exception when it was formed in 2012 by merging two legal heavyweights, Indianapolis-based Baker & Daniels and Minneapolis-based Faegre & Benson. Quoted in the Indianapolis Business Journal, Faegre Baker Daniels' chief operating officer, Tom Froehle, said that while a New York or Los Angeles address may add prestige to a firm, equity among offices is more important for firms without a dominant location. "I don't really think we saw a reason for a headquarters," Froehle said when discussing the logistics of the 2012 merger.

Froehle added that Faegre Baker Daniels has invested in telecommunications technology to seamlessly connect its 14 offices. "We don't have an office that has a majority of people, and we've got people in leadership in a number of offices," he said. "We wanted to encourage people working across offices."