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Leadership in Law honoree Tom Froehle urged his peers to protect the things attorneys value about their profession and find a way to “pay it forward” and help their younger peers, as he accepted The Indiana Lawyer’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday.
“It is easy to forget how much we didn’t know as younger lawyers and how much we have to offer by sharing our experiences and lessons learned. There can be no greater legacy than watching someone you have supported and mentored come into their own and flourish,” Froehle said.
Froehle joined 36 other Indiana attorneys and legal staff members in accepting awards at the annual Leadership in Law event, held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
A partner and chair emeritus at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, Froehle is the sixth attorney to win the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was created in 2021 to recognize seasoned legal professionals whose exemplary careers have demonstrated excellence in community involvement, mentorship and civility.
He joined the ranks of previous winners, including former Indiana congresswoman Susan Brooks, Lacy Johnson of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker of the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana, retired Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard and Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt of the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana.
Froehle led the forerunners of his current firm through two significant mergers, ultimately putting it among the 50 largest firms in the nation.
As a public finance attorney, he put his stamp on some of the largest economic development projects in the state over the past 30 years—from the Honda assembly plant in Greensburg to Lucas Oil Stadium and the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.
In his speech Thursday, Froehle said Faegre Drinker had evolved and grown to meet the changing needs of clients, and that the firm now looks very different from his first day as a summer associate in 1987.
“But I have stayed at the firm because the essence of who we are – our values and our commitment to excellence, clients, our community and each other – remains the same as when I was first introduced to the firm as a 23-year-old summer associate almost 40 years ago,” Froehle said.
The Faegre Drinker partner said he continues to believe that law is one of the most noble professions and it is up to all attorneys to embody that.
He noted that more than half of all U.S. presidents were lawyers by training, as well as numerous business and civic leaders in Indiana and nationally.
Froehle pointed to former Govs. Evan Bayh, Frank O’Bannon, Mitch Daniels, and Mike Pence, as well as Indianapolis mayors Steve Goldsmith, Bart Peterson and Joe Hogsett, as all having legal backgrounds.
He said attorneys have been fortunate in Indianapolis to be part of a bar that is collegial and civil.
“That isn’t the case in many other places, and we shouldn’t take it for granted. Across the country we see a breakdown in civility, decency and mutual respect. We should fight to make sure that doesn’t happen within our Indiana bar,” Froehle said.
Froehle challenged attorneys to work harder at developing and strengthening relationships.
“That may mean being intentional about getting to know other lawyers in our community by taking advantage of the limited in-person opportunities to get to know people and following up to connect with others, even if only virtually,” Froehle said. “And for those of us who already have relationships and know the bar and the community, we can do more to help our younger lawyers get connected.”
Froehle said he hopes the legal profession can resist what Froehle sees happening in so many other industries and businesses where “the profit motive has become paramount.”
But he acknowledged there is no question that law is a business, noting that the U.S. legal services market was valued at $400 billion in 2024.
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