Linda Addison (lawyer)
Linda Leuchter Addison (born November 25, 1951 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American lawyer, business executive and author. Addison is Partner-in-Charge of the New York office of Fulbright & Jaworski.[1] Crain's New York Business named Addison one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in New York 2011."[2] She is a Founder of the Center for Women in Law and President of the Center's Executive Committee, and Co-Chaired the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession.[3]
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[edit] 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.[4] 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,[5] headed by Vartan Gregorian.[6]
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.[7] Addison was selected as the 2008 Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Texas School of Law, the first woman in active law practice to receive this award.[8] She serves as a Trustee of the University of Texas Law School Foundation[9] and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council of the University of Texas System.[10]
[edit] Legal career and achievements
Addison is currently lead counsel for General Electric 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 she as lead counsel 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,[11] she negotiated a $37.5 million settlement (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's Executive Committee, a position she still holds.
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.[12] Prior award recipients include U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Addison Co-Chaired the New York State Bar Association's Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession.[13] She is a Founder of the Center for Women in Law.[14] The Center held its inaugural Women's Power Summit on Law and Leadership in April 2009.[15] The Summit's Keynote speaker was The Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor.[16] Addison currently serves as President of the Center's Executive Committee.
Addison was named one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in New York 2011” by Crain's New York Business.[17]
The National Law Journal named Addison to its most recent list of the "50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America" (2007).[18] The National Law Journal named her one of 17 women among its most recent list of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" (2006).[19] In 2001, The National Law Journal named her one of "America's Top 50 Women Litigators."[20] Texas Lawyer named Addison the number one "Go-To Lawyer" for commercial litigation in its most recent Go-To Guide (2007).[21] Lawdragon described her in 2008 as "a dynamo who is one of the nation's most respected litigators, she poses an intimidating presence in all manners of complex civil litigation, from pet food to diamond mines" and in 2006 as "equally skilled at keeping CEOs out of the courtroom as representing them once there."[22] In 2007 Chambers USA reported that "clients heap praise on the fierce and fabulous Linda Addison, respected for her incredible strategic analysis, thoroughness and practicality."[23]
Addison is the author of Texas Practice Guide: Evidence (Thomson West 2011) and Federal Civil Procedure & Evidence During Trial: 5th Circuit, (Chapter 9 - Evidence: Burden of Proof, Admissibility and Objections West Group 1997).
[edit] Civic and charitable involvement
Addison served on the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad.[24] She 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] and a member of the Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Council of the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City,[27], the University Club of New York, and the Economic Club of New York. She serves on the Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee, a bipartisan group established by U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn to screen, interview and recommend applicants for final consideration for appointment to the U.S. District Court judgeships and as United States Attorneys in Texas.[28]
Addison also serves on the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution ("CPR"),[29] the Board of Visitors of The University Cancer Center Foundation of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center[30] and the Advisory Board of Northern Trust Bank, N.A. In 2006, The United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast named her Woman of the Year.[31]
[edit] References
- ^ *Fulbright & Jaworksi L.L.P.
- ^ *Crain's New York Business, June 27, 2011
- ^ *New York State Bar Association Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession
- ^ *The American Bar Association Margaret Brent Award Honorees
- ^ *The University of Texas Plan II Honors Program
- ^ *The University of Texas Plan II Honors Program Directors Timeline
- ^ *The American Bar Association Margaret Brent Award Honorees
- ^ *University of Texas School of Law Outstanding Alumnus Award
- ^ *University of Texas Law School Foundation Board of Trustees
- ^ *Chancellor's Council Executive Committee of the University of Texas System
- ^ *Flood, Mary. "Addison, Clements, Caldwell make top 50 list." Houston Chronicle, May 29, 2007.
- ^ *Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award
- ^ *New York State Bar Association Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession
- ^ *Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law
- ^ *Center for Women in Law
- ^ *Center for Women in Law
- ^ *Crain's New York Business, June 27, 2011
- ^ *National Law Journal, May 28, 2007
- ^ *National Law Journal, June 19, 2006
- ^ *National Law Journal, December 17, 2001
- ^ *Go-To Guide, Texas Lawyer, 2007
- ^ *Lawdragon 500
- ^ *Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2007)
- ^ *U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
- ^ *U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- ^ *Partnership for New York City
- ^ *Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Council of the Council on Foreign Relations
- ^ *Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee Membership
- ^ *CPR Board of Directors
- ^ *The University Cancer Foundation Board of Visitors, 2010-2011
- ^ *United Way of Greater Houston
[edit] External links
- Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. biography of Linda Addison
- American Bar Association video on 2009 Margaret Brent Award Recipient Linda Addison
- American Bar Association video of acceptance remarks by 2009 Margaret Brent Award Recipient Linda Addison
- American Bar Association profile of 2009 Margaret Brent Award Recipient Linda Addison
- Houston Chronicle profile of Linda Addison "Houston Lawyer 'Able to Defy Long Odds'
- Super Lawyers profile of Linda Addison "Tough as Nails"
