News

A sponsor since the beginning

At Clean Lakes Alliance, our mission is to create a community that is dedicated to protecting and improving water quality in the Yahara River watershed. Partners like Foley & Lardner help us make this goal a reality. One of four sustaining founders of Clean Lakes Alliance, Foley & Lardner is an example of a local company that makes lake health a top priority.

Our home in the heart of Madison

Since 2012, Foley & Lardner has graciously provided us office space in Verex Plaza, which happens to be their home base too. It is located in downtown Madison near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, so we’re in a great spot to recruit talented interns and recent graduates.

Verex Plaza is on the shores of Lake Mendota on Madison’s isthmus and conveniently next to James Madison Park. Not only does looking out onto the lake give staff inspiration daily, but the park also serves as a useful space to train our citizen water quality monitors. During past seasons, monitors have even dropped off water samples to our office by boat!

Collaboration made easy

Sharing a building with Foley & Lardner has serious perks, too. Since their offices are right upstairs, it’s easy to collaborate and take advantage of their renowned legal expertise. As Clean Lakes Alliance advocates for healthy lakes, Foley & Lardner helps us navigate the local, state, and federal policy frameworks that impact the Yahara watershed. This legal advice is completely in-kind and very valuable to our organization.

Sarah Slack, a partner at Foley & Lardner who specializes in environmental law, is our go-to person for policy guidance. As the chair of the Economic Impact & Policy Committee, she helps direct us towards effective solutions to issues facing the Yahara watershed. Another one of our notable advisors is Jason Childress, the director of public affairs at Foley & Lardner, whose expertise helps us make wise management decisions.

Former Foley & Lardner partner Brian Potts, who now works at Perkins Coie, LLP, has also been a huge asset to Clean Lakes Alliance. He was the former chair of the Economic Impact & Policy Committee and was previously a member of both the Finance and Nominating Committees. Currently, Brian serves as the vice chair of the Clean Lakes Alliance Executive Board. Brian has provided us with valuable insight throughout the years, including during his time at Foley & Lardner.

Outside the office

Foley & Lardner employees took a break from their busy schedules and stepped out of the office for a Renew the Blue volunteer day last June. Collectively, they spent 16 hours planting 250 native plant plugs and 10 oak trees in the UW-Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Their efforts help maintain this culturally and biologically significant landscape that is enjoyed by so many Madisonians, and we’re excited to welcome them back for another volunteer day this year.

Foley & Lardner, LLP—Thank you!

Thanks to partnerships with sustaining founders like Foley & Lardner, Clean Lakes Alliance can continue to work towards a brighter future for the Yahara watershed.

Learn more about Foley & Lardner, LLP.