New leadership role advances investment in lawyers and growth across the firm’s 18 offices
WASHINGTON — Nov. 2, 2026
Key takeaways
- Catherine Dapra has joined BakerHostetler as chief talent officer. She is based in the firm’s New York office.
- In this new role, Dapra will lead the firm’s talent team and partner with firm leadership to oversee all aspects of attorney talent management across the firm’s 18 nationwide offices.
- Dapra brings 20 years of leadership experience with Am Law 50 firms across business operations, practice management and lateral partner integration.
BakerHostetler has named Catherine Dapra its first chief talent officer, underscoring the firm’s commitment to investing in the development and success of its lawyers and creating opportunities for continued growth.
Based in New York, Dapra will lead the firm’s national attorney talent strategy, partnering with firm and office leadership to attract and develop outstanding lawyers and strengthen the support available across BakerHostetler’s 18 offices. She will oversee attorney recruiting, integration, professional development, engagement and retention, as well as practice management.
BakerHostetler has been on a growth trajectory expanding its footprint across the U.S. into four new markets — including Austin, Texas; Dallas; San Francisco; and Wilmington, Delaware — and has grown in headcount by 17% since 2019.
“Catherine brings an exceptional combination of strategic vision, a strong understanding of the business of law and deep experience engaging talent at some of the country’s most sophisticated law firms,” said Paul M. Schmidt, chairman of BakerHostetler. “She understands our business, our culture and the opportunities ahead. At a time of growth and significant change across the legal industry, Catherine will help us invest in our people, strengthen our capabilities and continue delivering the highest level of service to our clients.”
Dapra’s experience encompasses both in-house leadership at Am Law 50 firms and strategic consulting across the legal industry. Most recently, she was a partner at a growth advisory firm, where she counseled law firm leaders on their investments in talent including lateral partner acquisition, integration and retention as well as how to advance high-performing teams through organizational design and process innovation.
Previously, in her roles as chief talent officer, she worked closely with firm leadership to align talent strategy with business objectives, strengthen performance and support sustainable growth. She is also an executive coach trained at New York University and holds a certification in HR data analytics from The Wharton School.
“Great firms grow and succeed by hiring exceptional lawyers and creating an environment for them to do extraordinary things,” said Dapra. “The opportunity at BakerHostetler is to build on its entrepreneurial culture and long-standing commitment to innovation. Our talent team is focused on helping our lawyers accelerate their careers, expand their practices and drive firmwide growth. The best investment that any firm can make is in a talent strategy that starts and ends with its people.”
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About BakerHostetler
BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups: Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax, and more than 1,000 attorneys coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.
