University of Illinois Law Student Receives Annual Diversity Scholarship

CHICAGO – Denise Branch, a first-year student at the University of Illinois College of Law, is the 2019 recipient of Barnes & Thornburg’s annual Diversity Scholarship and will be a summer associate in the firm’s Chicago office.

“I’m elated to be the recipient of the 2019 Barnes & Thornburg Chicago Diversity Scholarship – it’s really a dream come true,” said Branch. “I’m excited to start working at a premier law firm like Barnes & Thornburg, which has demonstrated a strong commitment to recruiting and developing diverse professionals at the onset of their legal careers. I expect to have an extremely fulfilling and rigorous summer working alongside some of the best and brightest attorneys in the profession.”

Branch, who is expected to earn her J.D. in 2021, has participated in national mock trial and American Bar Association negotiation competitions. She is a member of the Black Law Student Association and serves as a student representative for the Student Bar Association Diversity Committee.

“We strive to hire great talent from all backgrounds and position them for success – both individually and collectively for the firm and our clients,” said Dawn R. Rosemond, partner and Director of Diversity, Professional Development and Inclusion. “This scholarship was created to this end, and Denise’s outstanding academic performance and strong character signal that she’s ready to take the legal industry by storm. We’re excited that she’s beginning this journey with us.”

Branch earned her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Illinois, where she was a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Member and a teaching intern for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. As a member of the cross country and track and field teams, Branch earned academic distinctions from the university and the Big Ten Conference.

“Denise is an exceptional first-year law student with impressive credentials that are only matched by her confident, friendly personality,” said Jonathan Froemel, Barnes & Thornburg’s Chicago law student Hiring Partner. “The hard work and drive necessary to succeed as a four-year scholar athlete in two sports will provide a solid basis for her future success as an attorney.”

Barnes & Thornburg recognizes that a commitment to diversity requires action. Accordingly, at Barnes & Thornburg, the business of diversity is purposefully aligned with the business of the firm. Through deliberate programming, engaged sponsorship and the continual internal and external investment of time, talent and resources, the firm is committed to building and sustaining an inclusive, respectful and open culture made up of accomplished individuals of all backgrounds.

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 14 offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, San Diego and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.