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Member Monday: Colleen Redden

Senior Associate // Ernst and Young LLP

Description of your practice.
I am a senior associate in the state and local income tax practice at EY. My clients are corporate and partnership taxpayers. My work ranges from tax return compliance and restructuring implementation to state audit defense. I focus mainly on income tax matters but dabble in some sales and use tax.


Why are you a member of the WBAI?
When I was a first year law student, Judge Debra Walker advised me to reach out to WBAI Executive Director, Monique Austin, to help with the Annual Dinner. I showed up at the WBAI office and met Monique – which was the start of a great friendship and changed my legal career.

I met Justice Thomas Kilbride through the WBAI and later interned with the Illinois Supreme Court. The WBAI also connected me with Andie Kramer who encouraged me to enroll in the tax LLM program at Northwestern. I can truly say I would not be the professional I am today if it were not for the WBAI. I am a member of the WBAI because I know how the WBAI can influence the careers of young women and I’d like to be part of that process for the women coming up behind me.


What do you think is the best way to empower women in law?
I think the best way to empower women is by building confidence. For me, mentoring built my confidence and I recommend all young attorneys find a mentor or multiple mentors.


What are you most looking forward to in the following year, personally/professionally ?
Advancing in my career and White Sox prospects for 2020 season.


Tell us something interesting about you.
Prior to law school I worked onboard Carnival cruise ships as a member of the youth staff (onboard child care). I lived six months on the ship with two months off and made friends from all over the world.