Women in Law 2024

2024

DEBRA THOMAS MANAGING ATTORNEY Romanucci & Blandin LLC

D ebra Liss Thomas is a Managing Attorney at Romanucci & Blandin, a national trial firm. She is dedicated not only to delivering justice to clients, but also to growing, mentoring and educating fellow attorneys and law students. Debra has been a member of R&B legal teams on cases including the historic $27 million settlement for the murder of George Floyd, a $21.3 million verdict at trial for a mother’s death in a car accident arising from a wrongful police chase, and a $12.35 million settlement for failure to diagnose a young mother’s fatal breast cancer. In her role at Romanucci & Blandin, Debra addresses operations matters of the office alongside the firm’s Managing and Senior Partner. Debra also leads the firm programs for employee knowledge and growth with the firm’s Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and professional development activities. She manages the firm’s Law Clerk program, helping nurture the next generation of lawyers. Additionally, she fosters the firm’s relationships with law schools in Chicago, conducting outreach and planning programming that connects attorneys from the firm with law students. Debra has blogged for the firm on the importance of leadership while furthering education, and she has established

a network of mental health professionals and other subject matter experts who address the entire law firm with valuable perspectives and information, making each attorney and staff member even better so they can then deliver high quality legal service to clients. A third-generation attorney, Debra earned her JD from Chicago- Kent College of Law, and later a master’s degree in education from DePaul University. Debra serves on the American Association for Justice’s Exchange Advisory Committee. She is the current Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Standing Committee on Member Services, as well as a member of the Standing Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and a member, newsletter co-editor and CLE coordinator of the ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law. She has been active with the ISBA since she began practicing, having held positions on the Assembly, Traffic Laws & Courts Section Council, Solo and Small Firm Conference planning committee and the Young Lawyers Division. A Chicago suburb native, Debra spends most of her time outside of the office with her family, especially with her 12-year-old son, husband and very energetic Cavapoo puppy.

WOMEN IN LAW 2024