Linda Addison (lawyer)

Linda L. Addison

Linda Leuchter Addison (born November 25, 1951 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American lawyer, business executive and author. Addison is Managing Partner, U.S. of Norton Rose Fulbright,[1] chairs the U.S. Management Committee, and serves on its Global Executive Committee.[2] Crain's New York Business named Addison one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in New York" in 2015.[3] She is a founder and Past President of the Center for Women in Law, and co-chaired the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession.[4]

Early life and education

Addison is the daughter of Marcus and Theresa Leuchter, Nazi concentration camp survivors who immigrated to the United States in 1946.[5] After graduating from Bellaire High School in 1969, she attended The University of Texas, graduating in 1973 with a B.A. cum laude in the Plan II Honors Program,[6] headed by Vartan Gregorian[7]

At the University of Texas School of Law, she became the first woman Managing Editor of the Texas Law Review and received her J.D. in 1976.[8] She was named the 2008 Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Texas School of Law, the first woman in active law practice to receive this award.[9]

Addison was named a 2013 Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Texas.[10] On April 16, 2015, The University of Texas at Austin President William C. Powers presented Addison with The Presidential Citation, which recognizes "the extraordinary contributions of individuals who personify the University’s commitment to the task of transforming lives." [11]

As lead counsel for GE Energy, Addison led a team that successfully defended one of the first Dodd-Frank whistleblower cases filed in America (Asadi v. GE Energy) and served as lead counsel for GE Healthcare in the multi-jurisdictional litigation alleging overexposure to radiation from CT machines. Addison's other cases include the jury trial for Mars Incorporated involving infringement of one of its pet food patents, in which, as lead counsel, she obtained a judgment for monetary damages and a permanent injunction requiring consumer goods giants Heinz and Del Monte to remove six infringing product lines from the market (Mars, Incorporated v. H.J. Heinz Company). As lead counsel for the Northern Trust Company, the former directed trustee of the Enron 401(k) plan in the $1.7 billion Enron employee benefit plan class action cases, the largest ERISA class action in U.S. history,[12] she successfully negotiated a settlement within policy limits (Tittle v. Enron Corp).

Addison was lead counsel for Handy Dan Hardware in the trial of the case that challenged the constitutionality of Texas Blue Laws (Retail Merchants Association of Houston v. Handy Dan Hardware), leading to their repeal in 1985, and making it possible for Texans to shop on Sunday.

In 2001, she became the first woman named to Fulbright & Jaworski’s Executive Committee, which is now the U.S. Management Committee, and which she now chairs.

In 2009, the American Bar Association awarded Addison its Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way to success for other women.[13] Prior award recipients include U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.[14]

Addison co-chaired the New York State Bar Association's Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession.[15] She is a founder and past president of the Center for Women in Law.[16] The Center launched in April 2009 with its inaugural Women's Power Summit on Law and Leadership where the keynote speaker was The Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor.[17]

Crain's New York Business named Addison to its three most recent lists of the "50 Most Powerful Women in New York."[18][19][20] The National Law Journal named Addison to its list of the "50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America"[21] and as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America."[22] In 2001, The National Law Journal named her one of "America's Top 50 Women Litigators."[23] Texas Lawyer named Addison the number one "Go-To Lawyer" for commercial litigation in its Go-To Guide.[24]

Addison is the author of Texas Practice Guide: Evidence (Thomson West 2014) and Federal Civil Procedure & Evidence During Trial: 5th Circuit, (Chapter 9 - Evidence: Burden of Proof, Admissibility and Objections West Group 1997).

Civic and charitable involvement

Addison is a mentor in the FORTUNE/U.S. Department of State Global Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership.[25] She is a Partner in the Partnership for New York City,[26] a member of The Committee of 200,[27] a member of the Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Council of the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City,[28] The River Club of New York, the University Club of New York, and the Economic Club of New York.

Addison also serves on the Boards of Directors of Catalyst,[29] The Women's Forum of New York,[30] the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution ("CPR"),[31] and the Board of Visitors of The University Cancer Center Foundation of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.[32] She serves as a Trustee of the University of Texas Law School Foundation[33] and as a Lifetime member of the Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council of the University of Texas System.[34]

In 2014, Addison was honored as "Woman of the Year" by the Police Athletic League of New York City.[35] She was honored by Girls, Inc. in 2013 at its annual New York Luncheon Celebrating Women of Achievement [36] Legal Momentum presented her with its Equal Opportunity Award in 2011.[37] In 2006, The United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast named Addison Woman of the Year.[38]

References

  1. ↑ Norton Rose Fulbright
  2. ↑ Linda Addison Biography
  3. ↑ "Most Powerful Women of 2015".
  4. ↑ New York State Bar Association Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession
  5. ↑ The American Bar Association Margaret Brent Award Honorees
  6. ↑ The University of Texas Plan II Honors Program
  7. ↑ "Plan II Honors Program".
  8. ↑ The American Bar Association Margaret Brent Award Honorees
  9. ↑ "Outstanding Alumnus Award".
  10. ↑ The University of Texas 2013 Distinguished Alumni
  11. ↑ "Powers Honors Six Leading UT Austin Alumni with Presidential Citations".
  12. ↑ Flood, Mary. "Addison, Clements, Caldwell make top 50 list." Houston Chronicle, May 29, 2007
  13. ↑ Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award
  14. ↑ "Previous Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award Recipients".
  15. ↑ New York State Bar Association Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession
  16. ↑ Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law
  17. ↑ Center for Women in Law
  18. ↑ "Crain's 50 Most Powerful Women in New York 2011".
  19. ↑ "50 Most Powerful Women in New York 2013".
  20. ↑ "Crain's 50 Most Powerful Women of 2015".
  21. ↑ National Law Journal, May 28, 2007
  22. ↑ National Law Journal, June 19, 2006
  23. ↑ National Law Journal, December 17, 2001
  24. ↑ Go-To Guide, Texas Lawyer, 2007
  25. ↑ U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
  26. ↑ "Partnership for New York City".
  27. ↑ The Committee of 200
  28. ↑ Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Council of the Council on Foreign Relations
  29. ↑ "Catalyst Board of Directors".
  30. ↑ "Women's Forum Board of Directors".
  31. ↑ "CPR Board of Directors".
  32. ↑ The University Cancer Foundation Board of Visitors, 2012-2013
  33. ↑ "Current Trustees".
  34. ↑ "Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council" (PDF).
  35. ↑ "Woman of the Year awards".
  36. ↑ "New York Luncheon Celebrating Women of Achievement".
  37. ↑ Legal Momentum Equal Opportunity Award 2011
  38. ↑ "United Way cites local attorney".
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