Patricia Brown Holmes

Recognized by Best Lawyers^® since 2011.

70 West Madison Street, Suite 2900 Chicago, Illinois 60602

(312) 471-8700

pholmes@rshc-law.com

Firm: Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

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Overview

Firm

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

Years In Practice

Phone Number (312) 471-8700

RSHC Managing Partner Patricia Brown Holmes practiced law on both sides of the bench in courtrooms at every level, serving as Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, assistant U.S. attorney NDIL, assistant state's attorney for Cook County, and Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel for the city of Chicago. Patricia is the first African-American woman to manage and have her name on the door of a major law firm that is not women- or minority-owned.

Patricia is one of a handful of Illinois lawyers who have handled cases in state, city, and federal court as well as state appellate, federal appellate, and Illinois Supreme Court. She has represented a wide range of public and private corporate clients in complex commercial, regulatory, and class action litigation as well as internal investigations and crisis management.

She serves on the University of Illinois System Board of Trustees and The Chicago Network. She chairs the board of Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization. She is a former President of the Chicago Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers’ Association, and Harriet’s Daughters. She is a former board member of La Rabida Children’s Hospital. She served in a variety of high profile appointed positions such as the Special Prosecutor in the matter of Laquan McDonald, Sole Trustee of Burr Oak Cemetery, and co-chair of the Judicial Selection Commission for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, among others.

Throughout her career, Patricia has received countless accolades for her impressive professional achievements as well as her dedication to diversity, inclusion, and equity in the legal profession. She most recently received the 2022 MCCA Rainmaker Award for the Midwest Region, selected a 2022 Women of Influence honoree by Chicago Business Journal, received the 2022 Top 10 Illinois Super Lawyers distinction, selected a Managing Partner of the Year honoree by Corporate Counsel Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards 2021, and appointed to the National Football League Diversity Advisory Committee.

What legal services does this lawyer offer?

Commercial Litigation

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Awards

Best Lawyers (Commercial Litigation, 2011-2023; Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2020-2023)
Beyond in Big Law Award, Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (2022)
Women of Influence, Chicago Business Journal (2022)
Chicago’s Notable Black Leaders and Executives, Crain’s Chicago Business (2021-2022)
Chicago’s Notable Women in Law, Crain’s Chicago Business (2018,2022)
Chicago's Notable Minorities in Law, Crain's Chicago Business (2019)
Managing Partner of the Year—Law Firm, Corporate Counsel Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards (2021)
MCCA Rainmakers Award, Minority Corporate Counsel Association (2022)
Top 10 Illinois Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2022)
2016 Chicago Lawyer Person of the Year