Faegre Drinker Welcomes Nolan Kurtz as Chief Operating Officer

Faegre Drinker is pleased to announce that Nolan Kurtz has joined the firm as chief operating officer. Based in the firm’s Philadelphia office, Kurtz will serve as a member of Faegre Drinker’s executive leadership team, leading the firm’s C-suite and the firm’s global operations team. 

A collaborative and forward-thinking leader, Kurtz promotes cross-functional teamwork to improve operational efficiency and enhance client value. He is well-regarded for his ability to unite diverse perspectives to solve complex problems and drive innovative solutions. 

“Nolan’s track record of success and passion for operational excellence, innovation and data-driven decision-making will benefit our clients and firm,” said Chair Gina Kastel. “We believe Nolan is the perfect fit to lead our operations at Faegre Drinker.” 

Kurtz formerly served as COO of a national law firm, where he played key roles in its growth, data and innovation strategies. In this role, he guided the firm through successful mergers and propelled the advancement of innovative technologies, including automation, predictive analytics and generative AI. He championed the development, launch and implementation of an in-house AI large language model to educate lawyers and operations professionals about its capabilities and to enhance service delivery. 

“Faegre Drinker is known for its culture of collaboration and client service, and I’m thrilled to be joining at such an exciting time,” said Kurtz. “I’m looking forward to using my experience to lead and innovate the firm’s strong operations teams to continue to deliver excellence to clients.” 

Previous to his career in law firm operations, Kurtz worked as a lobbyist focused on information technology procurement, and held leadership positions in government, including at the Pennsylvania Department of State, where as deputy secretary for administration he directed the agency’s administrative support offices of IT, human resources, budget and contracting, and oversaw the activities of the Corporations Bureau. 

Kurtz earned his B.A. from Dickinson College and his MBA from Penn State Harrisburg.