Stacey Kielbasa

Stacey Kielbasa is Chapman's Chief Talent Officer. She has spent her entire career at the firm, starting as a summer associate and then continuing as an associate in the Public Finance Department. Possessing a natural affinity for mentoring and leadership, Stacey was asked by firm management to take on a new role—one that would involve developing and advancing the firm's recruiting and retention endeavors. Since 2001, Stacey has led Chapman's recruitment and professional development efforts and is also responsible for CLE, licensing, and inclusion efforts.

Stacey was an integral part of the creation of Chapman’s Finance Law Development (FLDP) Program in 2016, a program that continues today. The program gives juniors in college a summer experience at the firm and an opportunity to return to the firm for two years while considering law school. The FLDP program now represents a critical piece of Chapman's recruiting and retention strategies, with FLDP alums joining the firm as summer associates and associates.

Under Stacey’s guidance, Chapman has raised the firm’s profile as a premier summer experience for law students interested in finance. She worked to create the Chapman Leadership Academy, a training and development curriculum designed to prepare senior associates for partnership, the first such program of its kind at the firm. She also created Chapman's Core Curriculum program for junior associates to focus on cross-training and legal issues important to firm clients.

Stacey spends much of her time working with firm management on strategic initiatives, helping to create a culture of inclusion, shepherding the firm's evaluation process for non-partner attorneys, designing innovating training programs, mentoring and coaching attorneys, and as a trusted advisor to practice group leaders and partners.