Taft is pleased to welcome white-collar defense attorney Nancy DePodesta as a partner in the firm’s Litigation practice group. She joins the firm from Saul Ewing, where she previously served as the Co-Chair of the White Collar and Government Enforcement Practice.

DePodesta has significant experience performing independent investigations and defending clients in investigations conducted by the Department of Justice and other government agencies, including matters involving allegations of health care, securities, and tax frauds as well as bribery and corruption cases. She has substantial background in federal district courts and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Previously, DePodesta served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and as legal counsel for the Illinois Department of Corrections.

“We are honored to welcome Nancy to the team,” said Cezar “Cid” M. Froelich Taft Chicago Partner and Chairman. “Having a respected Chicago lawyer like Nancy greatly adds to our vision for Taft—to steadily build our team with exceptional talent and deliver the best results for our clients.”

“Nancy’s extensive experience, hard work ethic, and impressive track record are exactly the qualities we look for in Taft attorneys. We look forward collaborating with her,” said Paul T. Jenson, Taft Chicago Partner-In-Charge.

“At this stage in my career, Taft is well-positioned and aligns with my own goals as an attorney,” said DePodesta. “It is an exciting time to be a part of this steadily growing firm and I look forward to working with everyone and continuing my practice here.”

Ranked in the prestigious Am Law 100 as the 83^rd largest firm in the U.S. in 2024 by revenue, Taft has approximately 875 attorneys spread across nine major markets – eight in the Midwest (Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Minneapolis) as well as Washington, D.C. The firm has grown its lawyer headcount by 250% and revenues by 325% since 2017, which led to being recognized by Am Law 100 as the fastest growing law firm in 2022. As a result, Taft is now approximately the 50th largest law firm in the U.S. by lawyer headcount.