By: Emily N. Masalski
On Friday, December 12, 2025, the Illinois Bar Foundation recognized Deane B. Brown with the 2025 Distinguished Service to Law & Society Award at the IBF Champions Breakfast. Deane is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (2011-2012) and a Shareholder in the Chicago law firm of Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. With over 35 years of legal experience, Deane represents executives and employees in all areas of employment law, including severance negotiations, employment discrimination claims, non-compete disputes, and executive employment agreements. Hon. Debra B. Walker provided opening remarks and several WBAI members attended the IBF Champions Breakfast to celebrate Deane’s many accomplishments.
The Champions of the IBF (formerly known as Fellows of the Illinois Bar Foundation) are a distinguished group of attorney and non-attorney Foundation supporters who commit to a pledge payable over ten years. The IBF Champions help create sustainable long-term funding for the IBF Access to Justice and Lawyers Care programs throughout the state.
“Deane’s leadership and years of dedicated service to the IBF and its Champions, as well as many other fantastic organizations, have made her exceedingly worthy to receive this recognition today. Deane, who served as IBF President from 2019-2020, was only the 4th woman president in IBF’s almost 75 year history, and I am proud to follow in her footsteps today as the 7th, with many more, we hope, to follow,” said IBF President Lauren Tuckey.
Deane is known for serving as a role model to others and her commitment to excellence. “[Deane’s] ability to balance a strong vision for the mission and future of the IBF with her thoughtfulness, adaptability, and willingness to collaborate with others enabled us to strengthen the organization and raise critical funds to help our colleagues and neighbors in need, especially during trying times like the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jessie Reeves, IBF Director of Events & Administration.
A constant supporter of women in all professions, Deane also served as President of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago and co-founded the Exclusive Professional Women’s Networking Group. In addition, Deane served as Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Bench & Bar Section Council and Chair of the ISBA Professional Conduct Committee. In 2021, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Deane to serve on its Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee. Congratulations to Deane on this well-deserved recognition.
To learn more about the IBF Champions Program, visit illinoisbarfoundation.org or contact Jessie Reeves at jreeves@illinoisbarfoundation.org
This article was originally published in the WBAI Winter 2026 Newsletter on page 24.