Lisa A. Brown
Chief Performance Officer and Chief of Staff
Overview
Lisa Brown serves as Faegre Drinker’s chief performance officer and chief of staff to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). In this dual role, Lisa works closely with the firm’s chair, ELT and other firm leadership groups to develop and implement important firm initiatives and enhance the performance of individual partners, principals, practice groups and the firm. Lisa brings her background in firm management and as a practicing lawyer to this work, which leverages her problem-solving, project management and consensus-building skills.
Examples of Lisa’s responsibilities include:
- Implementing firm strategies, initiatives, and priorities and acting to improve efficiency, connect teams, integrate workstreams, and promote coordination and communication among all stakeholders
- Managing the firm’s partner performance program, which ensures that partners and principals have the resources to build strong practices and teams, including partner training, professional development and feedback
- Overseeing the firm’s partner compensation process, including supporting the partner compensation committee and its chair
Talent and Leadership Experience
For more than a decade, Lisa was the chief talent partner at a large law firm. Lisa designed and implemented leading talent management systems — including professional development, practice development, recruitment and diversity — which propelled the firm to national recognition. She supported top leadership on the firm’s broader strategic and operational initiatives. Lisa shares her insight on lawyer development as a featured speaker at conferences and law schools nationwide.
Litigation Experience
Before becoming the chief talent partner at a large law firm, Lisa was a litigation partner handling complex commercial and class action cases.
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Illinois
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Certifications
HR Certification Institute — Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification (SPHR)Education
University of Chicago Law School
J.D. (1995)
Wesleyan University
B.A. Phi Beta Kappa (1990)
Insights & Events
Latest
News
Other Perspectives
- Strengthening Recruiting and Interviewing Practices
Hiring Partner Conference, National Association for Law Placement (NALP) Foundation, Houston, 2018 - Charting a Career Path and Authentic Leadership Styles
Women in Law Summit, Women’s Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, 2018 - An Innovative Approach to Hiring Lawyers: One Firm’s New Program Reflects Its Firm Values and Eliminates Implicit Bias
Symposia on the State of Diversity in the Legal Profession, Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP), Chicago and Seattle, 2017 - Data-Driven Recruiting
Metrics, Diversity and Law Conference of the Research Group on Legal Diversity, American Bar Foundation, Chicago, 2016
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- National Association of Legal Career Professionals (NALP)
- Professional Development Consortium (PDC)
Civic Activities
- The Posse Foundation, a nationwide college access and youth leadership development program — Advisory Council Board, Career Coach, Interviewer
- University of Chicago Law School — Advisory Council; Women’s Mentoring Program; Alumnae Advisory Board
Firm Leadership
- Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Honors
- Illinois Leading Lawyers, 2017-19