Spotlight On: Kevin Hyde, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP – Jacksonville

Kevin Hyde on service demand August 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Kevin Hyde, partner at Foley & Lardner LLP – Jacksonville, discussed the key milestones and achievements of the Jacksonville office over the past year, highlighting growth in lawyer recruitment, strong demand for corporate and litigation services, and alignment with regional and national trends.

What are the key milestones and achievements for the Jacksonville office over the last year?

The office continues to grow with the addition of new lawyers. There’s a consistent demand for our services, which are largely corporate, real estate and litigation, and particularly in key industry sectors. This aligns with Foley’s regional and national trends of expansion and growth. Our office operates both locally and within our national footprint.

How would you describe the demand for each sector, and what key trends are you seeing?

We’re seeing an increase in manufacturing, ranging from small to very large businesses, particularly in aerospace and businesses working at the Cecil Commerce Center. There is a strong demand for FinTech, with a constant need for employment in that area. Healthcare and life sciences continue to have strong demand. We’re fortunate to have many significant healthcare institutions in this region. Many are expanding their footprint, which indicates the continued growth of healthcare in our region.

How does your office support clients in navigating the legal implications of the current economic landscape, such as inflationary pressures and high interest rates?

Economic factors impact our clients, especially in finance. Our finance team is dealing with issues like debt restructuring and new types of loan or credit facilities. We focus on the fundamental needs of clients as they continually assess their financial needs and access to capital. There is a lot of work in this area.

How are you leveraging technology and innovation to fulfill your clients’ needs and demands?

Like everyone else, we’re trying to determine the exact role of AI. AI clearly has a place in our firm and our clients are also implementing it. It’s still a bit early to know precisely what that role will be, but it’s evident that we will all be using it more and more. The question is how to use it most effectively. We’re all learning together, as you do with any new technology. I’m confident that AI will become an increasingly important tool for us, and we need to learn the best ways to utilize it.

AI is a significant trend that will change how we work rather than displace it. Legal analysis and client service is our most essential task. AI can help us do this work more cost-effectively and efficiently. Additionally, integrating closely with our clients remains crucial. As they grow and explore new opportunities, our ability to support them with AI and other tools will be a key differentiator in an increasingly competitive environment.

What innovative business solutions is the firm implementing to stay competitive in the legal industry?

We focus on efficiency while ensuring quality. This includes everything from document review to providing documents and agreements for multiple outlets. Efficiency is at the forefront, but never at the expense of quality or meeting specific client needs. It’s about balancing cost-effectiveness with delivering the thorough analysis and thoughtful leadership our clients require.

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How do you view the workforce today, and what strategies do you have in place to recruit and retain talent?

The competition for high-level talent is as strong as ever. We’re looking for individuals with the right skill set, demand, and desire for the work we do. To retain talent, we ensure we offer training opportunities that outline a long-term career development path. It’s important for our team to perform meaningful work and be integrated with their clients, moving beyond just research to being part of the client’s day-to-day work and service team.

Can you discuss the firm’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion?

We have a strong focus on DEI, ensuring that all individuals in the firm have opportunities for meaningful engagement. Our clients often measure this by ensuring that diverse attorneys have opportunities to work on their matters. We strive to meet these expectations by providing internal opportunities and aligning with our clients’ demands for service from diverse attorneys.

Can you share some of the strengths or opportunities that Jacksonville offers to your firm?

Jacksonville and Northeast Florida are experiencing significant growth, providing numerous opportunities for professional services firms. We see expansion in almost every industry sector, which benefits us as new companies come to the region and existing clients grow. This growth period is the strongest I’ve seen in over 30 years. It’s a great time to recruit talent to our firm and to leverage the region’s expansion for our growth. The entire region, from the smallest surrounding counties to Jacksonville itself, is experiencing this positive trend.

What is your general outlook for the next couple of years and your top priority during this period?

The outlook is good. We are growing in our existing service areas and looking for new areas to enter, especially as our clients expand their footprint. Currently, we are focusing on key sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, life sciences and health, and energy. These sectors are poised for significant growth, and we want to ensure we are positioned to support and grow with them.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.foley.com/