Women in Law 2025

2025

JENNIFER YULE DEPRIEST MANAGING PARTNER, CHICAGO OFFICE Reed Smith

J ennifer DePriest is managing partner of Reed Smith’s Chicago office, the firm’s third largest of its 34 offices. In this role, she manages the strategic operations of the office and its 200- plus personnel, including over 100 attorneys. Jennifer balances her leadership responsibilities with an active litigation practice, representing clients on a broad scope of high-stakes intellectual property disputes including trade secret misappropriation, patent, trademark and copyright infringement matters, and unfair competition. A seasoned litigator, Jennifer has a long track record of success with high-value matters for her clients, making her a go-to resource. Recently, she obtained case-ending sanctions awards for a leading multinational manufacturer of medical imaging equipment in hard fought cases. A skilled advocate in the courtroom, she has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict and is highly regarded for her litigation strategy and implementation. Given her experience, Jennifer co-leads the firm’s Trial Training Program for its senior associates. As part of the Chicago office’s longstanding commitment to pro bono, throughout her career, Jennifer has provided hundreds of hours of pro bono legal services to underserved residents in the Chicago area, and has assisted numerous immigrants in obtaining asylum in conjunction with the Chicago-based National Immigrant Justice Center. She has been a long-time member of the firm’s global Pro Bono Committee and co-chair of the Chicago office’s pro bono committee. Consistent with her commitment to pro bono, Jennifer serves as a member of the board of the Chicago Bar Foundation,

whose mission is to improve access to justice for members of the community in need. As managing partner of the Chicago office, Jennifer has driven the office’s participation in community service initiatives that have a direct, positive impact on area residents, including partnering with My Block, My Hood, My City as part of an effort to beautify underserved neighborhoods, and managing the office’s partnership with Children First Fund and Edward Tilden Community Academy. As part of this effort, Reed Smith has provided significant financial support for Tilden’s budget and resources that support teachers, students and their families. Jennifer has spent her entire career at Reed Smith, starting at Sachnoff & Weaver, which merged with Reed Smith in 2007; accordingly, she is uniquely qualified to steward the Chicago office’s strong culture of respect, engagement and collegiality. A dedicated mentor, Jennifer has provided career guidance throughout her career to numerous attorneys as they advanced to partner or counsel. A staunch advocate for women in the legal industry, she is an active member of the Women’s Initiative Network of Reed Smith. In 2021, she was selected for the firm’s 2021 Theresa L. Davis Mentorship Award, which recognizes a Chicago partner each year for his or her mentorship activities, commitment to the advancement of women and diverse attorneys, and for encouraging others’ participation in pro bono service. Jennifer was also selected for Crain’s Chicago Business 2024 Women in Law and Crain’s Chicago Business 2025 Notable Litigators & Trial Lawyers.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025