A sidebar with… Secretary Marcia L. Fudge

An attorney who served in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet has joined a Washington, D.C., law firm with offices in metro Detroit.

Marcia L. Fudge, the 18th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister as a partner and its firmwide chair of public policy. The second African American woman to lead HUD, she steered the agency through a housing crisis aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fudge said her top priority as a leader always has been to develop effective solutions and results for the people and communities she has been called to serve.

“In my transition to life as a private citizen and attorney, it was important for me to land among professionals who are similarly dedicated to solutions-driven work,” she said. “Taft’s core values, culture, leadership principles and commitment to its clients strongly align with my personal values, as does its modern approach to service.”

Fudge is a past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and it was there that she worked closely with Lacy M. Johnson, a member of President Biden’s Export Council and partner-in-charge of Taft’s Washington, D.C. office.

Johnson said Fudge’s career achievements are inspirational, and her presence at the firm will be highly impactful.

“On a personal level, I know firsthand that she is a great leader, who is insightful and collaborative in everything she does,” Johnson said in a press release. “Secretary Fudge knows how to bring people together often with disparate viewpoints and experiences to accomplish goals and to serve the common good.”

Fudge earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Ohio State University before earning her law degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall School of Law. She began her career in public service in the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and served as the first woman and first African American person elected Mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio. She was the U.S. Representative for the 11th Congressional District of Ohio from 2008 until 2021.

“She is a tremendous leader with an astute vision, impeccable integrity, and a deep passion for serving our nation’s communities,” said Taft Chairman and Managing Partner Robert J. Hicks. “Secretary Fudge’s service-oriented leadership and vast experience will have an extremely positive impact on our clients and the communities we serve.”

Mark G. Cooper, partner-in-charge of Taft Detroit, agreed, saying Fudge’s “steadfast commitment to serving our nation’s communities aligns perfectly with our firm.”

Fudge shared with Michigan Lawyers Weekly details of her prior public service and what she originally had planned as a career.

 

What prompted the move to Taft?

While I was delighted to be home in Cleveland, I didn’t do well with retirement. Several firms contacted me about joining their firms, however, Taft was by far the best fit.

 

What are your goals as chair of public policy for the firm?

As we all know, we live in an ever-changing society but one’s values and vision for a better society should not change. My goal is to be a part of the policy-making process in and outside of Taft. It is policy that drives decision making with an eye toward equity and inclusion.

 

You led HUD during a housing crisis that was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. Can you share some of your experiences from your time as the Secretary of HUD?

The pandemic was certainly a challenge. At HUD we saved 2 million people from eviction foreclosures, assisted more than 1 million people who were unhoused, and worked collaboratively with other agencies to ensure the people we served were not left behind.

 

You have dedicated your career to public service, from being elected mayor of Warrensville Heights to serving as a U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 11thDistrict to serving in the Biden administration. How does this prior service inform your work today?

I would not be here without it. Working at every level of government and serving the public are central to my belief system. In this work, I have been able to acquire a better understanding of people and the issues they face. After all, the law in large part is designed to make things fair. That is exactly what I’ve done most of my career.

 

You have deep connections to Ohio and part of your new role at Taft will involve combatting forever chemicals. Do you have plans for “cross-border” collaboration on this issue?

Yes, Ohio and Cleveland is my home. I am fortunate to work with a firm that has a great reputation with people that want to make a difference in business and as good corporate citizens. Certainly the issue of forever chemicals is so important to the safety of this nation’s drinking water and more. We plan to do everything we can with anyone that has the same goal of addressing this issue.

 

What is something not many people know about you?

Most people do not know that when I went to college, it was my intention to forge a career in sports.

 

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