CBA Record April

Y O U N G L A W Y E R S J O U R N A L

APRIL/MAY 2016

Pro

Files:

Patricia Brown Holmes

By Shawna S. Boothe

This profile is the third in a series. One of theYLS’s

goals this year is to increase the membership

and active participation of associates in large

law firms. Each month, we will be profiling a

Chicago lawyer who has practiced in a large

law firm and is active in the CBA. This month,

we profile current CBA President Patricia Brown

Holmes of Riley, Safer, Holmes & Cancila and

former a partner at Schiff Hardin LLP.

Would you briefly describe your work as a

lawyer and the path that led you to where

you are now?

I am currently a named partner at Riley,

Safer, Holmes & Cancila. RSHC is a full-

service law firm that I helped found to

bring something new to the legal market.

I was formerly a partner at Schiff Hardin

for 11 years where I served in various

leadership roles, including the co-chair of

the firm’s Compliance, White-Collar and

Internal Investigations Team; chair of the

firm’s Diversity Committee; and member

of the firm’s Executive Committee. I was

the first African American female equity

partner at that firm when I joined in 2005.

My own practice at RSHC focuses on

representing individuals and companies

in high-stakes commercial litigation; con-

ducting solid, stealth and credible internal

investigations; defending white-collar

crime, and client counseling.

My legal career has been a journey–I

have explored many sides of the law, rang-

ing from prosecution, defense and the

judiciary, and in various practice settings,

including federal, state and local govern-

ment and in large and mid-size law firms.

Along the way, I have been guided by one

constant: a desire to improve the world for

other people. After graduating from the

University of Illinois College of Law in

1986, I started my legal career as a Cook

County Assistant State’s Attorney in the

appeals division, quickly working my way

up to supervisor. After five years pros-

ecuting state-level crimes, I moved to the

U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal

crimes as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the

Northern District of Illinois. I was later

offered a position with the City of Chicago

as its Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel

for the municipal prosecutions division,

where I led the division for almost three

years. In 1997, I was selected to join the

bench as an Associate Judge in the Circuit

Court of Cook County, where I served for

almost nine years until I retired in 2005

and entered private practice.

My path has also been shaped by my

community involvement. I serve as a

Trustee of my alma mater, the University

of Illinois, which encompasses all three

campuses (Urbana, Springfield, and Chi-

cago) as well as the Medical and Research

center. I am a Trustee of the La Rabida

Children’s Hospital and Research Center

(formerly La Rabida Children’s Hospital).

And I am the sole Trustee of the Burr Oak

Cemetery, charged with its rehabilitation

following a horrific set of crimes includ-

ing fraud and grave desecrations. I chair

Chief Judge Ruben Castillo’s Magistrate

Judge Evaluation and Selection Commit-

tee for the Northern District of Illinois. I

was an adjunct professor at Northwestern

University School of Law and the Loyola

Institute for Paralegal Studies, and was

an instructor at the Attorney General’s

Advocacy Institute–Criminal Trial Advo-

cacy Section of the U.S. Department of

Justice. I was a member of Senator Dick

Durbin’s judicial commission to investigate

backgrounds and select federal judges and

the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District

of Illinois.

How did you first get involved in the CBA?

I first got involved in the CBA during law

school–at that time the CBA had a student

division–and I have been involved with the

CBA ever since. I really enjoyed my student

involvement and continued being engaged

with the CBA after law school. I have been

active on many committees over the years,

including the Criminal Law Committee,

ad hoc and blue ribbon committees, and

the Young Lawyers Section.

What positions have you held with the CBA?

I have been fortunate to hold a number of

CBA positions, including being a member

of the Board, Secretary, Second Vice Presi-

dent and First Vice President. I am honored

to serve as this year’s President–only the

second African American female and sixth

African American to be elected to the posi-

tion in 142 years.

Howhas your membership in the CBA helped

your career?

One word comes to mind: phenomenal.

The CBA has provided me with oppor-

tunities to showcase my skills and talents

to a diverse group of people in different

practice areas and walks of life. Work-

ing with others on CBA committees and

planning CBA events has allowed me to

demonstrate leadership, organization and

collaboration–attributes of lawyers that are

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