2023 Top Women in Law: Gina M. Kastel

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Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath attorney Gina Kastel’s interest in the law was sparked by working in then-Congressman Bruce Vento’s Washington D.C. office, after graduating from Notre Dame University. “I realized that D.C. was a city where there were a lot of opportunities for lawyers.” She enrolled in Harvard Law School and graduated in 1999.

Working as a summer associate at the firm then known as Faegre and Benson gave her the opportunity to rotate through a variety of practice groups. While working with the health care group she “realized I liked the people and found the subject matter interesting.” That led to a position in Faegre Drinker’s health care group, where her practice has been a mixture of governance and transactional work, such as health system or foundation mergers.

“Helping nonprofits and health care organizations achieve their missions is very satisfying.” In 2014, Kastel became head of the health care group and in 2015 was elected to the firm’s board and executive team, and also served as chief operating partner.

In April 2023, three years after the 2020 merger that created the current firm, Kastel was appointed chair of the global firm. “I see my role now as an opportunity to pay that forward by trying to create an environment where other people can also have great careers.”

One of the skills she learned that is useful in her current role is the knack for “persuading people what is the right thing to do. My job now is all about influencing people and getting them strategically aligned.”

She takes pride in mentoring younger attorneys and helping them succeed. “My whole role as a leader is making the firm a place where everybody can shine.”

With the rise of artificial intelligence, one of the new tools the firm has begun using is predictive analytics, in areas including client relationships. “It can give you insight, and signals about the health of a business relationship — where we need to be attentive and where we have opportunities,” Kastel said. “We’re also using AI to support contract review, and case review. Generative AI is the next frontier.”