Shareholder
An accomplished lawyer for over 30 years, Ms. Brown has extensive experience representing executives and employees in all areas of employment law, including severance negotiations, employment discrimination claims and retaliatory discharge cases. Ms. Brown represents clients who have been the victims of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin and disability discrimination. She represents women who have been sexually harassed in the workplace, sales representatives who have been wrongfully denied bonuses and commissions, and executives in challenging overbroad and unenforceable non-competition agreements, among many other types of employment matters. Ms. Brown regularly represents clients in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights and in federal and state courts.
In May 2021, Ms. Brown was interviewed on severances for Built In, an online community for startups and tech companies.
Ms. Brown is extremely experienced in representing C-Suite and senior executives in public and private companies in negotiating and drafting employment agreements. She handles sophisticated equity and compensation issues involving long-term and short-term incentive plans, stock options, and restricted stock unit agreements. Ms. Brown also assists clients in negotiating signing and retention bonuses, non-compete and non-solicit provisions as well as confidentiality and trade secret agreements. She also handles shareholder and partnership agreements.
Ms. Brown is a leader in the Chicago legal community. She is a Past President of the Illinois Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and previously served as President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Chair of the ISBA Bench & Bar Section Council, and Chair of the ISBA Professional Conduct Committee. In addition, Ms. Brown is a strong supporter of other professional women. She served as President of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago and is a founder of the Exclusive Professional Women’s Networking Group (EPWNG). In 2021, Ms. Brown was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on its Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee.
Ms. Brown has been repeatedly recognized as a top lawyer in Illinois. In September 2022, Ms. Brown was named one of Crain’s Chicago Notable Women in Law, an honor which recognizes women who have made an impact in the types of cases they handle, served as a role model to other women attorneys, and assumed a leadership role in professional organizations and civic/community service initiatives. In May 2022, Ms. Brown received the 2022 Vanguard Award from the Chicago Bar Association, which honors individuals and institutions who have made the law and the legal profession more accessible to and reflective of the community at large. In May 2020, Ms. Brown was one of 50 Honorees selected for the Inaugural Women In Law Award, sponsored by The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer Magazine. The Women In Law Award honors women lawyers for their work to mentor and promote other women in the profession, their success in the legal community and being a shining example of leadership. For the last ten years, Ms. Brown has been named to the list of Top 100 Lawyers In Illinois and for more than a decade, she has been named to the list of Top 50 Women Lawyers in Illinois in all practice areas, in Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine. Only the top 5% of lawyers in Illinois are selected as Super Lawyers, using a multi-step evaluation process involving a statewide survey of lawyers, independent panel research and in-depth evaluation of background and experience by practice area.
Ms. Brown was selected for inclusion in the 2020-2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Guide. In addition, Ms. Brown has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2010 and all subsequent editions of The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law. She has been recognized in Leading Lawyers Network Magazine-Women’s Edition as being among the Top Ten Women Lawyers in Illinois among all practice areas; the Top Ten Women Business Lawyers; and the Top Ten Women Litigators. Ms. Brown has received an AV rating under the Martindale-Hubbell® Lawyer Rating System, indicating that she has “reached the height of professional excellence” and “is recognized for the highest level of skill and integrity.”
Further, Ms. Brown has been widely recognized for her significant contributions to the legal profession. In 2025, Ms. Brown was honored with the Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award at the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Champions Breakfast in Chicago during the Illinois State Bar Association Midyear Meeting. In 2020, Ms. Brown received the Inaugural Women in Law Award from the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer Magazine. In 2015, she received the Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award from the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, an honor presented to outstanding women lawyers serving in leadership roles who have excelled in their fields and created new pathways for other women beyond traditional mentoring. In 2012, Ms. Brown was named by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of 15 women attorneys making a unique impact on the legal community.
Employment Agreements & Non-Competition Waiver Negotiation
Deane has represented me in the negotiation of two C-level employment agreements and one very challenging (and successful) negotiation to waive a non-competition agreement. Her experience and skills are impressive and her approach direct, confident, and efficient. I will always turn to Deane for counsel and highly recommend that others do the same.
Review and revisions to employment contracts
Deane did a great job working through each of the provisions in the proposed employment agreement as well as an equity agreement as part of some re-alignment of incentives. She was able to work through everything with counsel from the other side and we reached what I believe is a fair agreement. She was firm on things that were meant to protect my interests and did an excellent job getting those things as part of my agreements.
Separation Agreement
Excellent! Knew how to approach my case, suggestions on what has worked previously, was familiar with my company and contacts. Had the right suggestions on where we could push / be firm, and where it would be fruitless. Have made other recommendations to colleagues to work with Deane, the firm. Highly recommend.
Separation Agreement
Deane and Margaret demonstrated impeccable professionalism in assisting me with my separation agreement matter. It was a pleasure working with each of them during a very stressful time in my career – having their support gave me peace of mind that I was in great hands throughout the process.
Key highlights:
– Rapidly responsive to my questions
– Keen insight into the specific matter, with detailed research that supported our arguments
– Ability to ask the right questions to understand the nuances of a complex problem statement
– Terrific negotiators
I would not hesitate to provide my highest recommendation to Deane and Margaret.
Boston University School of Law (J.D. 1990) — Note Contributor, Boston University Annual Review of Banking Law
University of Cambridge, England (M.Phil 1987)
The Johns Hopkins University (B.A. 1986)
Illinois (1990)
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Inaugural Women in Law Award (2020) by The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer Magazine
Top Women Lawyers In Leadership Award (2015) by Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
AV® Preeminent™ Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
Named Top Ten Women Lawyers in Illinois by Leading Lawyers Network Magazine-Women’s Edition (2012)
Named Top 100 Lawyers In Illinois by Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine (2013-2024)
Named Top 50 Women Lawyers in Illinois by Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine (2009, 2010 & 2012-2024)
Named in Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment (2020-2023) and Civil Rights (2021-2023) Lawyers Guide
Named Top 15 Women Attorneys in the legal community making a unique impact on the profession by Law Bulletin Publishing Company (2012)
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois — Ex Officio, 2012-2013 — President, 2011-2012 — First Vice President, 2010-2011 — Second Vice President, 2009-2010 — Treasurer, 2008-2009 — Member, Board of Directors, 2007-2008 — Co-Chair, WBAI Public Office Committee — Member, The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening
Professional Women’s Club of Chicago — President, 2006-2007 — Vice President, 2005-2006 — Chair, Programs Committee, 2003-2005 — Advisory Committee Member, 2008-present
United States Magistrate Merit Selection Panel and Merit Review Panel — Appointed as Panel Member by Chief Judge of the United States District for the Northern District of Illinois, 2012-2013
Illinois Bar Foundation — Immediate Past President, 2020-2022, President, 2019-2020 — First Vice President, 2018-2019 — Second Vice President, 2017-2018 — Third Vice President, 2016-2017 — Fellows Chair, 2015-2016 — Board Member, 2013-present
Illinois Supreme Court Judicial Evaluation Committee Member (2021-present)
Illinois State Bar Association —Member, Labor & Employment Law Section Council, 2018-2019 —Member, Standing Committee on Women & The Law, 2018-2019 —Ex Officio, Bench & Bar Sectional Council, 2018-2019 —Chair, Bench & Bar Section Council, 2017-2018 —Vice Chair, Bench & Bar Section Council, 2016-2017 —Secretary, Bench & Bar Section Council, 2015-2016 — Appointed to Bench and Bar Section Council, 2012-2014 — Chair, Assembly Rules and Bylaws Committee, 2012-2014 — Appointed to Special Task Force on the Future of the Courts, 2013-2014 — Appointed to Assembly Governance Committee, 2013-2014 — Elected to the Assembly, 2011-2014 — Secretary, Standing Committee on Supreme Court Rules, 2010-2011 — Appointed to the Legislation Committee, 2009 — Chair, Standing Committee on Professional Conduct 2005-2006 — Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on Professional Conduct 2004-2005 — Secretary, Standing Committee on Professional Conduct 2003-2004 — Member, Standing Committee on Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, 2000-2001
Chicago Bar Association — Member, Committee to Prevent Attorney Malpractice, 2000-2007
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
Provisor’s Network — Executive Committee Member
Co-Presenter for the Illinois State Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Women & The Law CLE webinar, “Selling Yourself: How to Advocate for Promotions” (June 21, 2023).
Interviewed on “Legally Mentored” by The Augmentors, a podcast dedicated to creating a rising tide for mentoring in the workplace and beyond (August 2022).
Panelist for Chicago Bar Association Commercial Litigation Committee’s Webinar, “Marketing and Business Development for Litigators” (June 13, 2022).
Interviewed on severances for “More Than Money: Your Guide To Severance Pay,” for Built In, an online community for startups and tech companies (May 18, 2021).
“6 Reasons I Support the Equal Rights Amendment as an Employment Lawyer.” Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Blog, wbaiillinois.org (April 28, 2017).
“Malpractice by ‘of counsel’ tough to sort out.” Lawyers’ Forum (Mar. 1, 2013).
“May Lawyers Sell Discounted Services on a ‘Deal of the Day’ Site?” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (Oct. 23, 2012).
“Rule Tries to Address Intentionally ‘Conflicting Out’ Lawyers.” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (Sept. 18, 2012).
“Some Actions Should Not Occur When Responding to an ARDC Beef.” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (Aug. 28, 2012).
“Lawyers Must Not Mislead the Public.” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (July 12, 2012).
“Ethical Considerations Exist in Advertising with Client Testimonials.” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (June 11, 2012).
“From Office Sharing to Letterhead: The Ethics of Holding Yourself Out to the Public,” Illinois Bar Journal (July 2001).
Contributing Author, “Base Offense Level and Specific Offense Characteristics,” Practice Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines published by P. Bamberger (1993).
“Pretrial Discovery in Federal Court,” Federal Criminal Practice published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (1992).
Note Author, “Basic Banking: Has the financial Services Industry Severed the Lifeline of Low-Income Consumers?,” Boston University Annual Review of Banking Law (1990).
The Equal Rights Amendment: Why It Still Matters and How It Will Affect Our Future, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois (October 2016).
A Discussion on Employment, Labor & Inclusion, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois (May 2016).
Women Leaders in Labor and Management, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois (May 2016).
How to Get the Business: A Conversation with Givers and Getters, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois (Apr. 2015).
Using Grit and Growth Mindset to Advance Women in the Law, Winston & Strawn LLP, Chicago, Illinois (Feb. 2015).
Marketing Mayhem: Gaining Clients While Playing By The Rules, panel discussion, Law Bulletin Seminars, Chicago, Illinois (May 2012).
Overcome Gender Stereotypes and Transform Your Career, panel discussion, Women’s Leadership & Mentoring Alliance, Chicago, Illinois (Apr. 2012).
Young Lawyers, Young Leaders, panel discussion, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Program at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois (Apr. 2012).
Family Law Initial Client Intakes and Ethical Considerations in Family Law, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois (Nov. 2011).
Taking Diversity Seriously: Being a Woman in the Legal Industry, Chicago Lawyer Off The Pages Diversity Conference, Chicago, Illinois (Nov. 2011).
Ethical Considerations in Divorce, Illinois Institute For Continuing Legal Education, Chicago, Illinois (Nov. 2010).
Ethical Issues For Attorneys And Experts, Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois (Mar. 2006).
Avoiding Malpractice, CBA Young Lawyers Section Seminar on Professional Responsibility (Mar. 2001).
Conflicts of Interest in Family Law Practice, CBA Matrimonial Law Committee Seminar (Feb. 2001).
Ethical Issues Relating to Office Shares, Of Counsels, Co-Counsels and Independent Contractors: Ethical Issues Regarding Firm Names and Letterhead, ISBA Ethics Seminar (Dec. 2000).
