Deborah J. Fox was recently announced as the managing partner of Meyers Nave. She succeeds David Skinner, who led the firm for more than 15 years. Fox has been with the firm for more than 18 years, previously serving as a member of the executive committee and as chair of the firm’s trial and litigation practice.
We sat down with Fox to discuss her goals as she begins this new chapter.
AALM: As the new managing partner of Meyers Nave, what initial goals do you have?
DF: Meyers Nave is a truly special place with a durable culture and powerful brand identity. My initial focus is to elevate and expand Meyers Nave’s status and market presence in the legal community as a powerhouse law firm focused on providing high-quality client service with top-tier legal talent.
Over 40 years, we have built a firm model that simply does not exist anywhere else in California. We combine the elite talent, bench strength, and capabilities clients expect from the largest firms with the agility and hands-on service of a boutique. That combination matters in California, where law, politics, regulation, and public scrutiny collide every day.
The result is unmatched value-add. And, this is why our clients stay with us for decades. My goal is to make that the through line in everything we do, reinforcing Meyers Nave as go-to counsel for anyone building, supplying, employing, or governing in California.
AALM: As a member of the executive committee and chair of the trial and litigation practice, you have experience in leadership roles. How do you feel stepping into this new position? Are you expecting to take a step back from your practice?
DF: I am excited and fully charged to take on this new leadership role. I am passionate about breaking the glass ceiling and making the practice of law better for future generations—this gives me the vehicle to implement that passion. This commitment is not symbolic. It means developing and promoting diverse talent into visible leadership roles and creating a firm where advancement is based on merit, performance, and opportunity.
I will continue to practice law, and for me that fuels me—staying in the trenches matters. It keeps leadership grounded in what clients are actually facing. I am fortunate to have Jenny Riggs, an exceptional lawyer and leader, stepping into the trial & litigation chair role, and Martha Joerger as executive director. That structure allows me to lead the firm while continuing to work on the kinds of complex, high-stakes matters that shape California law, and that I’ve enjoyed for decades.
AALM: Any words for David Skinner as he steps down from the role following 15 years of leadership?
DF: Thank you! David Skinner has been an extraordinary leader for this firm, and we’re excited that he will continue to lead our eminent domain practice. David loves baseball, and he quite literally passed the baton to me—or in this case, a physical baseball bat—with wisdom, generosity, and his full support. He’s made Meyers Nave stronger, more focused, and well-positioned for the future. David is also exactly where he wants to be: deeply engaged in highly complex eminent domain cases and spending more time doing what he loves as a litigator. His legacy here is lasting and continues to unfold, and I am grateful for the foundation he built.
AALM: Your transition coincides with the appointment of Martha Joerger as executive director. Tell us about your working relationship and how you will collaborate to support the firm?
DF: Martha and I work very closely. She is a trusted colleague and advisor with highly developed instincts, creative ideas, and strong relationships across the firm. We work as partners in setting direction and carrying it through the firm, and Martha is central to building the strategic cohesion that brings our departments and practice arms together as one Meyers Nave. Together, we are aligned on accountability, clarity, and supporting our attorneys and staff so they can do their best work. We are fortunate to have one of the best teams in the business helping us to do all of this important work.
AALM: Tell us about some of the more long-term goals of the firm.
DF: Growth at Meyers Nave starts with a clear point of view, not a headcount target or a map. We are focused on strengthening what already makes the firm distinct (California-focused, elite practice at the intersection of law, policy, and litigation) and investing in the talent needed to lead in that space for the long term.
We are actively recruiting attorneys and staff who thrive in dynamic, high-level environments, value collaboration, and want to build careers advising clients on issues that shape communities, government, and the economy. Any geographic expansion or new practice growth will be driven by where our clients are going and what they need next.
AALM: Tell us about your firm’s approach to technology and AI. Do you see that evolving in the coming years?
DF: We approach technology and AI with discipline and restraint, because our value to clients rests on judgment, precision, and work product they can trust and interrogate. I came from my own firm where I learned early on the importance of harnessing technology to work smarter and faster.
Unlike traditional legal technology, today’s AI tools are probabilistic and opaque, which raises real issues for a profession built on accountability, and attention to detail.
We monitor and evaluate these tools through a dedicated AI Committee, and are intentional about the adoption and implementation of these tools aligned with our clients’ dictates. Our focus is protecting the foundation of our firm—elite talent, rigorous analysis, impeccable execution, and thoughtful efficiency. Our IT director is excellent, bar none, and we are utilizing his skill set to respond to the ever-evolving environment.
AALM: Are there any other changes you may be implementing in the coming years to keep pace with the industry and client expectations?
DF: A firm has to change and evolve to thrive and to serve clients at the highest level. However, change at Meyers Nave is not about keeping up with the industry. It is about staying aligned with how risk actually shows up for clients in California. We regularly reassess our priorities because the legal, regulatory, political, and public landscape here moves fast and rarely in straight lines. Being a mid-sized law firm allows us to be responsive and to make adjustments as the situation demands. What does not change is our decision to build around core strengths rather than chase trends.
Our depth across trial and litigation, labor and employment, land use and environmental, construction, and government-facing work reflects how serious matters now unfold. Employment issues, regulatory exposure, political pressure, and litigation risk increasingly collide in a single dispute or project. We are structured for that reality, with integrated teams that can move seamlessly across disciplines when the stakes are high, across matters involving housing, infrastructure, energy, water resources, and crisis management under intense public scrutiny.
AALM: Looking back on the more than 40 years of service, what core principles of the firm’s legacy are you focused on carrying forward into the next decades? What does that look like in the day-to-day management of the firm?
DF: Meyers Nave’s legacy is rooted in how we show up for clients, colleagues, and communities when the stakes are high. It reflects a steady commitment to the rule of law and a willingness to speak up and take action when core legal principles are challenged. We stand firm in defending a strong, impartial judiciary and respect for the courts, because those principles underpin every matter we handle.
What I am focused on carrying forward is a culture built on service, collaboration, integrity, and excellence, not as abstract ideals but as daily expectations. In practice, that means investing in people, setting and enforcing high professional standards, and staying closely connected to the real-world challenges our clients face.
Inclusion and engagement are hardwired into that legacy. It is a part of how the firm operates day to day, reflected in who we hire, how we develop talent, how we lead teams, and how we serve communities across California. The work is demanding by design, but it is also meaningful, and that combination has defined Meyers Nave for 40 years and will continue to define it going forward.
Carrying the legacy forward also means protecting the independence of the legal profession and the courts. Our willingness to speak up, including through amicus advocacy when fundamental legal principles are at stake, reflects a long-term and clear view of our role. We all are best served when the system itself remains strong, fair, and accountable.
AALM: Anything else you’d like to add?
DF: California is not getting simpler. Legal, political, and business risks continue to converge, often in full public view. Our role is to help clients see around corners, not just understand what the law says today, but how a decision will play out in court, in government, and in the public arena tomorrow. That perspective has long defined Meyers Nave, and it will continue to guide where we take the firm next.
