Women in Law 2021

TOP 50 WOMEN IN LAW HONOREE

A s managing partner of Dentons’ Chicago office, Leah Bruno exemplifies leadership in its several dimensions, guiding all personnel and strategy of the firm’s largest U.S. office while shaping a culture of diversity, client service, career fulfillment and collegial trust. A member of Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group since joining the firm out of law school in 1999, Leah has extensive litigation experience in a wide variety of commercial disputes. She has handled the defense of consumer and insurance class actions at both the state and federal levels. Leah has particular experience in false advertising consumer class actions as well as competitor disputes relating to intellectual property matters, including copyright, trademark and other related areas. She prides herself in her pragmatic and client-focused approach to matters, taking the time to understand her clients’ objectives before developing a strategy to achieve the best result. Leah represents clients in pretrial, trial and appellate proceedings. Her experience also includes drafting and preparing briefs for all levels of state and federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Universally regarded as a friend and ally, Leah uses her role as office managing partner to champion others. She frequently sponsors her colleagues for awards, encourages involvement from all members of the office and gets involved in recruiting and staffing to ensure that cases are diversely staffed and that young attorneys are given the opportunities they need to develop. Leah has been a member of the U.S. Associate Development Committee for more than six years — three as co-chair. Leah has led Dentons’ WomenLEAD initiative, designed to develop and inspire women business leaders. In 2020, Leah received the Lubin Award: Visionary, given annually to a Dentons employee who reflects the spirit of dedication to the Firm and its culture. Leah has an active pro bono practice focused on reproductive rights and women’s issues. She has frequently worked with the Center for Reproductive Rights and other organizations to submit pro bono amicus briefs in high profile matters pending in district and circuit courts around the country. In 2016, she led, pro bono, the coordination of a Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of several national women’s organizations, arguing the importance of reproductive health rights on women’s autonomy. The favorable decision remains a binding precedent followed by the high court in recent years. In 2019 and 2020, she led efforts on three additional Supreme Court amicus submissions on behalf of various women’s organizations, including the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce and the National Women’s Law Center in cases addressing women’s full access to healthcare and equal rights. Leah has been an ACLU cooperating counsel for 20 years and a member of the board of directors of its Illinois chapter for more than five years. She is also a member of the Legal Advisory Board of World Business Chicago. Leah earned her J.D., with highest honors, from DePaul University College of Law, she was an associate student at Trinity College at the University of Oxford and earned her B.A. from Northwestern University.

LEAH R. BRUNO

MANAGING PARTNER DENTONS DePaul University College of Law

“Leah exemplifies leadership in its several dimensions, guiding all personnel and strategy of the firm’s largest U.S. office.”

CHICAGO LAWYER JUNE/JULY 2021 • 57

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