James Goodnow

Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers?

At Fennemore, leadership is a team sport. The firm’s structure is built around collaboration, and I’ve always believed the best results come when smart, driven teams work toward a shared goal.

A great example of this philosophy is our C-Suite leadership model, which fosters cross-functional collaboration and shared decision-making. This approach allows us to move faster, think more creatively and respond to change with agility.

I came up through the ranks at Fennemore, and that experience shaped my perspective. The goal at the firm is to create an environment where people feel comfortable finding their place and helping shape the firm they want to be part of. Fennemore’s success has always come from the people who make it what it is.

Q: What impact have any disruptions of the past 18 months had on you as a leader?

The past 18 months have shown that the legal industry is no longer protected by tradition. Rapid advances in technology, consolidation in the market, and shifting client expectations are transforming how we create value and deliver services.

At Fennemore, we’ve responded by leaning into that change. We’ve been on the leading edge of AI, developing internal systems and applications in partnership with OpenAI. Teams across the firm have been expanding flat-fee and alternative pricing models to deliver even greater value to our clients.

What stands out most is how our people have approached this period of constant change. They’ve stayed open, asked questions and tried new things without losing sight of what matters most — each other and the clients we serve. For 140 years, Fennemore has evolved alongside the businesses and communities we support. Today’s Fennemore continues that tradition: a reminder that progress doesn’t come from playing it safe; it comes from staying curious and moving forward together.

Q: What do you feel we can be doing as a business community to empower economic growth here?

At Fennemore, we have a front-row seat to the challenges and ambitions of companies across every sector, and we see the power of partnership every day. We’re business allies — helping organizations anticipate change, navigate risk and move faster toward innovation.

When the legal and business communities work in sync — sharing knowledge, removing barriers and fostering collaboration — we create the conditions for bold ideas to take root and thrive. Arizona’s continued growth will depend on how well we all support the businesses of the future, from tech startups to legacy companies reinventing their industries.

The spirit that built this state is the same one that will carry it forward: people collaborating, taking chances, and creating opportunity for the next wave of leaders.

Q: What is new and notable for your company’s near future that will impact our economy?

We’re entering one of the most exciting chapters in Fennemore’s 140-year history. Our continued growth — both in new markets and through strategic talent expansion — reflects the momentum we’re seeing across the business community.

At the center of this progress is Project BlueWave AI, our flagship initiative designed to transform how legal services are delivered. Inspired by the Blue Ocean Strategy concept, Project BlueWave AI focuses on discovering untapped opportunities and creating new operational models for the modern legal economy. By integrating advanced technology and automation across the firm, we’re empowering our teams to work smarter, deliver faster and create more value for clients.

Ultimately, these investments in people and technology don’t just strengthen Fennemore, they help drive innovation and growth throughout the industries we serve, contributing to a more dynamic and competitive economy.

But through it all, I would still say that Fennemore’s real story is about the people. The same spirit that guided Fennemore’s earliest pioneers still defines us today: curiosity, collaboration and the belief that progress is something we build as a team.