David Foltyn has served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Honigman since 2008. In this role, he oversees the firm’s more than 350 legal professionals throughout Michigan, Chicago and Washington, D.C. as well as a growing national client base served by prominent practices in intellectual property, private equity, corporate and securities, real estate, and litigation, among others.
Prior to his role as Chairman and CEO, David served as the firm’s Recruiting and Business Development Partner and Co-chair of its Strategic Planning Committee.
Under his guidance, the firm has instituted innovative strategies to become a value leader in the marketplace known for high quality legal services. Continuing the firm’s tradition of being the best place for the best lawyers to work, David has enhanced the recruiting functions of the firm and has implemented ongoing development opportunities for attorneys and business professionals. He is also an active community leader and serves on a number of boards, including the Downtown Detroit Partnership, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
As a corporate attorney, David counsels publicly and privately held business clients and provides guidance to boards of directors regarding corporate governance and on all regulatory matters at the state and federal level. He has deep expertise in advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financial transactions, public offerings, and private placements of securities and debt.
Practice Areas
Education
- magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; Winner, Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition, 1980
- Michigan Law Review, Senior Editor, 1979-1980
- with high distinction
Admissions
- Michigan
Awards
- Listed in Chambers USA, 2004-2024
- Recognized as an Eminent Practitioner in Corporate/M&A in Michigan; Chambers USA states:
- "David Foltyn is Honigman's chair and chief executive officer. He possesses an extensive track record of advising clients on M&A, securities, public offerings and divestitures."
- "David Foltyn is Honigman's chair and chief executive officer. He possesses an extensive track record of advising clients on M&A, securities, public offerings and divestitures." One clients adds, "He is a great lawyer, very well recognized and respected in the state."
- " David Foltyn is Honigman's chair and chief executive officer. He possesses an extensive track record of advising clients on M&A, securities, public offerings and divestitures. One source praises his strength, stating: 'I think he's fantastic.'"
- "David Foltyn is the chairman of the firm. He has a wealth of experience in the corporate field, having advised on large-scale M&A as well as related financial transactions."
- "David Foltyn is an experienced adviser acting on a broad range of corporate matters, including mergers, acquisitions and related financial transactions. He enjoys a strong reputation as a 'fantastic M&A lawyer.'"
- "[David] is held in high regard for his longstanding reputation in the market. He is well placed to represent clients in mergers, acquisitions, public offerings and a wide range of financial transactions. Sources describe him as 'a very talented lawyer' who has 'built a great practice.'"
- "David Foltyn regularly handles sales, purchases and public offerings for a diverse list of corporate clients. Reporters find that he is 'very practical, smart and knows how to work as part of a team.'"
- "David Foltyn advises on M&A, public offerings and securities, and is singled out by market sources as a 'wise and trusted adviser.'"
- "[David] 'has the ear of his clients, offers practical solutions and doesn’t mess around,' according to commentators. He provides guidance on subjects such as corporate governance, divestitures and public offerings."
- "The 'terrific' David Foltyn is chief executive of the firm. He has extensive experience in a range of corporate matters, including M&A, public offerings and private equity transactions."
- "Firm chief executive David Foltyn is viewed as a 'very impressive' corporate M&A lawyer with extensive experience in handling transactions for venture capital firms and other financial institutions."
- Recognized as an Eminent Practitioner in Corporate/M&A in Michigan; Chambers USA states:
- The Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2025
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- Corporate Compliance Law
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
- Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Securities Regulation
- Detroit Corporate Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2018, 2025
- Detroit Mergers and Acquisitions Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2013
- Detroit Corporate Governance Law and Corporate Compliance Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2011
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- DBusiness, Detroit 500, 2023-2024
- DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2010-2019, 2022
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Managing Partners, 2024
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2006-2022
- Recognized in the Top 100 rankings, 2006-2015
- Named as one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers, 2007
- Law Bulletin Media
- Leading Lawyers, Corporate Finance Law, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Publicly Held Corporations Law, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Securities & Venture Finance Law, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers Magazine Michigan, 2017
- Named as one of the:
- Top 10 Leading Transactional Business Lawyers
- Top 100 Leading Lawyers
- Top 100 Leading Business Lawyers
- Named as one of the:
- Legal 500 United States 2008, listed as highly recommended M&A attorney
- Lawdragon, recognized as a finalist for 2010
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Professional & Community Involvement
- State Bar of Michigan
- Business Law Section
- Council, Past Chairman
- Business Law Section
- Detroit Economic Club, Board of Directors, 2013-present
- United Way for Southeastern Michigan
- Board Chair, 2019-2021
- Vice Chair, 2017-2019
- Board of Directors, 2012-present
- Downtown Detroit Partnership, Board of Directors, 2012-present
- JVS, Past Chair, 2004-2006
- Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors
- Executive Committee
- Political Action Committee Board Chair
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- David Foltyn is interviewed by Forbes for the article “David Foltyn of Honigman, On Leveraging Proportionality And Value In Legal Services”Media |
- David Foltyn is featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article “Big Law laterals find Honigman perfect fit’”Media |
- David Foltyn is featured in the Law360 article “How To Keep Your Best Lawyers From Walking”Media |
- David Foltyn is quoted in the National Law Journal article “Detroit Shakes Off Bankruptcy, to Firms’ Delight”Media |
- David Foltyn is featured in the Bloomberg BNA article “Honigman Chair: We Sell Services By Word of Mouth”Media |
- David Foltyn is listed among the members of the host committee in the Detroit Free Press article “Detroit Homecoming event aims to reconnect former residents with city”Media |
- David Foltyn’s appointment to the Board of Directors for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan highlighted in The Oakland PressMedia | Also highlighted in Heritage Newspapers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Detroit Legal News, Oakland County Legal News and Macomb County Legal News |
- Honigman mentioned in Business Wire and PRWeb release “Honigman ranked in the Top Three Law Firms in the U.S. for Advising Banks and Thrifts for 2011”Media |
- David Foltyn named Chair of the Community Legal Resources Law Firm Appeal noted in the Ingham County Legal NewsMedia | Also noted in Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Detroit Legal News, Oakland County Legal News and Macomb County Legal News |
- David Foltyn quoted and Honigman mentioned in the National Law Journal special Midwest Report article “Detroit firms are looking beyond the city limits”Media |
- David Foltyn quoted in The Michigan Chronicle article “Business leaders discuss the future Detroit at Pancakes & Politics forum”Media |
- David Foltyn quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business article “Law firms see 2011 as ripe for growth”Media |
- Honigman featured with David Foltyn quoted in “Giving Back” column regarding its Community Legal Resources Law Firm of the Year Award in the Detroit Free PressMedia |
- David Foltyn mentioned on Observer & Eccentric website HometownLife.com article “Jenna Bush Hager for CARE House”Media | Also highlighted in Hour Detroit |
- David Foltyn provides Honigman's view in "Associate pay stagnant: Firms waiting out slump, reluctant to give increases" article by Michigan Lawyers WeeklyMedia |
- David Foltyn presenting at the 2010 Business Review, West Michigan’s Deals of the Year highlighted by MLive.comMedia |
- David Foltyn highlighted in Business Review, West Michigan’s “Deals of the Year” finalist announcementMedia |
- David Foltyn, Tricia A. Sherick and Jonathon D. Block quoted in Michigan Lawyers Weekly article, “Grading in your own ranks”Media |
- Honigman highlighted and David Foltyn quoted in American Lawyer article “No Place to Hide”Media |
- Honigman’s David Foltyn profiled in Michigan Lawyers Weekly article “On the Stand”Media |
- Media |
- Detroit Legal News announces Honigman's No. 1 ranking in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2009Media | June 24 & 29 Editions
- David and Elyse Foltyn among the 'Givers & Shakers' in the "2009 Book of Lists" by Crain's Detroit BusinessMedia |
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Events
- Event | | NABR
From Chambers USA, 2022:
"[David Foltyn] possesses an extensive track record of advising clients on M&A, securities, public offerings and divestitures."