Fennemore
James Goodnow55

James Goodnow

CEO & President

Phoenix

P: 602.916.5440

F: 602.916.5640

jgoodnow@fennemorelaw.com
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"There's a way to do it better. Find it." – Thomas Edison

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Overview

JAMES GOODNOW

James Goodnow is Fennemore’s CEO. Nearly two decades after starting his career at the firm as a file clerk, he became the youngest known chief executive of a major law firm in U.S. history when he started in his current role in 2018. He earned his J.D. at Harvard Law School, a master’s degree in entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge Business School (U.K.), and a B.S. from Santa Clara University, where he graduated first in his class.

During his time as CEO, James has focused on positioning Fennemore for the future. He has helped lead the M&A teams that have resulted in the opening of 15 new offices around the U.S.—allowing the firm to better serve its business client base. Fennemore’s upward trajectory led to it being named the #1 firm in the U.S. for year-over-year revenue growth according to the 2023 American Lawyer Am Law 200 rankings (45.6%). He’s been at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation, driving the launch of Project BlueWave AI, an industry-leading, proprietary, and secure system that empowers teams to deliver exceptional client service. He’s helped pioneer Fennemore Forward, a bold new platform redefining workplace flexibility. He and the firm’s senior leadership team believe in listening carefully and always putting people first—a philosophy that contributes to Fennemore’s industry-leading retention and job-satisfaction statistics. 

James is known for his thought leadership at the intersection of law and business. He has been featured on the cover of The American Lawyer (“Meet the New Boss … James Goodnow Shows What the Firm of the Future Might Look Like”), and ABA Journal named him one of “America’s Techiest Lawyers” in a cover story. Apple profiled James on Apple.com and in a worldwide “Apple in Business” ad campaign. He is a contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine and writes a law firm management, leadership, and innovation column for Above the Law. He is the co-author of Motivating Millennials: How to Recognize, Recruit and Retain the Next Generation of Leaders, which debuted at #1 on Amazon in the business management new release category. A lifelong learner, James Goodnow shares the 10 books that have most influenced his leadership and thinking.

James is involved in the community. He has chaired, served on the board, or been involved in many organizations, including Make-A-Wish AZ, TGen (Translational Genomics Research Institute), the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona, Brophy College Preparatory, the AZ Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and more.  He is married to his high school sweetheart and is the proud father of two children. Outside of the office, James can be found playing pickleball with his family. He enjoys wine because it’s about people, culture, history, science, and relationships. He’s a Level I sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. 

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School (Thesis/3L paper on research-focused LegalTech)
  • Master’s Degree, University of Cambridge Business School (U.K.), Entrepreneurship (Thesis-“Reboot: Using Entrepreneurial Strategies to Infuse Innovation in Established Businesses”).
  • MIT Sloan School of Management, Dual Certificates in (i) Management & Leadership, and (ii) Strategy & Innovation
  • Harvard Business School, Management Certificate (“Becoming a Better Manager,” HBSO)
  • B.S., Santa Clara University, summa cum laude (graduated first in class)
  • Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional (M&AP), Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA)
  • Certified International Mergers & Acquisitions Professional (IM&A), Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA)
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Areas Of Practice

Mergers & Acquisitions

Fennemore boasts a large and sophisticated client-focused Mergers and Acquisitions practice.

Professional Services M&A Experience

James has led or co-led M&A transactions that have led to the opening of 10 new Fennemore offices across the United States.

Awards and Honors

  • Innovative Business Leader of the Year, AZ Big Media
  • Best Lawyers in America®
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®
  • Top 50 AZ Big Media Leaders to Watch in 2025, AZ Big Media
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, AZ Big Media
  • AZ Business Leader, AZ Business Magazine
  • Lifetime Achievement, America’s Top 100 Attorneys®
  • Top 100 Lawyers, AZ Business Magazine
  • AZ Business Leader, AZ Business Magazine
  • Newsweek, 20 Leaders (Law)
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated (the highest rating available), by Martindale-Hubbell
  • AZ Big 100, Business Leaders, AZ Big Media

Articles and Presentations

Professional and community activities

  • Member, State Bar of Arizona
  • Member, Board of Directors, National Kidney Foundation of Arizona (Immediate Past Chair)
  • Member and Class Captain, Brophy Prep Alumni Association
  • Member, Board of Directors, Make-A-Wish® Arizona
  • Former Judge Pro Tempore, Maricopa County Superior Court
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Admissions

  • Arizona
  • New York
  • District of Columbia (inactive)
  • Colorado
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

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