Brienne M. Letourneau

Partner, Chicago

Biography

Overview

Brienne M. Letourneau is a partner in the Global Commercial Litigation Practice, who strategically collaborates with businesses and institutions to help them achieve favorable outcomes in their most complex and high-stakes matters. She has substantial experience representing clients in a variety of disputes, including class action defense, fiduciary litigation (asset management claims, director and officer liability, and other corporate governance issues), contract disputes, business torts, and professional liability.

Brienne has represented a wide array of public and private companies, including leading wealth management and financial services companies, global consumer brands, and prominent higher education institutions, as well as directors, officers, trustees, and other individual and corporate fiduciaries.

Brienne has broad experience representing clients as plaintiffs and defendants before state and federal courts and arbitral tribunals throughout the country. She has succeeded for her clients in every phase of litigation, from pre-litigation dispute resolution and early dispositive motion practice to trial and appeal, and has a track record of prevailing for her clients in high-stakes class actions, business-to-business disputes, and other "bet-the-company" matters. Additionally, Brienne has successfully advised and defended clients in connection with government subpoenas and investigative demands.

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer named Brienne among the "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" in 2022. She also has been recognized by Crain's Chicago Business among the "Notable Women in Law" (2024) and as a "Rising Star in Law" (2021). Brienne was named to The American Lawyer's list of Midwest Trailblazers (2021) and Benchmark Litigation's "40 and Under" list recognizing the "top emerging talent in litigation" (2023).

Brienne maintains a pro bono practice representing indigent clients and non-profit organizations in civil actions, and advising and counseling non-profit organizations on legal issues that impact their institutional missions. She regularly writes and speaks on issues and developments in class action and fiduciary litigation matters. Brienne is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and serves on the Business Council of the Goodman Theatre.

Bars and Courts
Illinois State Bar
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
US Supreme Court
Education
JD
Harvard Law School
BA
University of North Carolina
Languages
English

Experience

Brienne's recent representations include*:

Representation of a global bottled water company in the defense of multiple putative class actions alleging violation of consumer protection laws arising out of the alleged presence of microplastics in bottled water products.

Representation of Bayport Financial Holdings USA and Bayport Colombia S.A. in "mass raid" litigation in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Representation of former directors and officers of a for-profit college corporation in multiple actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duties and shareholder fraud.

Representation of a major private university in a class action challenging retention of tuition and fees following transition to remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Representation of former directors and officers of an oil and gas vessel manufacturer in litigation involving breach of fiduciary duty claims on behalf of creditors.

Representation of a chemical manufacturer in a contract dispute relating to environmental liabilities at dozens of manufacturing and disposal sites, resulting in a final judgment of $49.3 million.

Representation of a major private university in a class action alleging mismanagement of workers' retirement savings, resulting in dismissal with prejudice of key claims, which was affirmed on appeal to the Seventh Circuit.

Representation of a corporate fiduciary in a class action alleging mismanagement of trust assets by a professional fiduciary, resulting in an award of summary judgment that was affirmed on appeal to the Ninth Circuit.

Representation of a financial services company in multiple class actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with individual participant investment advice in 401(k) plans, resulting in dismissal with prejudice.

Representation of an asset management company in a class action alleging breaches of fiduciary duties in executing an investment strategy on behalf of a defined benefit pension plan, resulting in dismissal with prejudice.

Representation of a financial services company in a class action alleging that a company violated ERISA's anti-cutback provisions and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act by reducing older employees' accrued pension benefits, resulting in dismissal with prejudice which was affirmed on appeal to the Seventh Circuit.

Representation of a marketing services company in multiple class actions challenging its marketing practices, resulting in dismissal with prejudice of all actions.

*Some matters handled at a prior firm.

Speaking Engagements

"Thinking Creatively: Building Your Network & Business Development," January 2024: Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law

"Class Actions: How to Survive on the New Battleground," November 2023: White & Case LLP

"Advising the Board," July 2023: American Bankruptcy Institute Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop

"ERISA Supreme Court Update," February 2014: Chicago Bar Association

Publications

Co-Author, "Developments and Trends in Collective Actions," Class and Group Actions Laws and Regulations, Sixteenth Edition, 2024

Co-Author, "Determining Necessity of Discretionary Distributions," The Estate Planner, June 17, 2020

Co-Author, "Making a Federal Case Out of Trustee Termination," The Estate Planner, March 3, 2020

Co-Author, "The Perils of Failing to Follow the Trust Instrument," The Estate Planner, November 20, 2019

Co-Author, "Collegiate Concussion Cases with Implications for the Sports Industry," Sports Business Journal, September 2018

Co-Author, "3 Key Concussion Issues to Be Decided by Ohio Supreme Court," Law 360, April 10, 2018

Awards and Recognition

Notable Women in Law (2024)
Crain's Chicago Business

40 and Under List (2023)
Benchmark Litigation

40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch (2022)
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer 

Rising Star in Law (2021)
Crain's Chicago Business

Midwest Trailblazers (2021)
The American Lawyer