BRIENNE LETOURNEAU is a skilled litigator who handles complex business disputes, high-stakes ERISA and consumer class actions, and other critical matters for businesses and institutions. She represents public and private companies and organizations across sectors such as financial services, consumer goods, asset management, and higher education, as well as directors, officers, trustees, and other fiduciaries. Brienne combines strategic insight, creativity, and practical judgment to deliver results that resolve her clients’ legal challenges and advance their business objectives.
Brienne has extensive experience representing clients in a broad range of complex disputes, including:
- Defending ERISA and fiduciary litigation involving the management and investment of retirement, pension, and trust assets, including claims alleging excessive fees, imprudent investments, prohibited transactions, self-dealing, and disputes over pension plan benefits, funding, and administration.
- Defending consumer class actions across a variety of sectors, including consumer products, food and beverage, and marketing services, involving allegations that marketing, labeling, and advertising practices were deceptive, misleading, or unfair.
- Resolving director-and-officer and other professional-liability matters involving corporate governance, oversight, and risk-management responsibilities, including claims alleging breaches of duty, mismanagement, and disloyalty.
- Enforcing and challenging contracts, pursuing and defending business torts, and managing professional liability claims in a variety of industries and sectors.
- Responding to and challenging government subpoenas and investigative demands.
Brienne has achieved favorable outcomes for her clients in state and federal courts and arbitral tribunals across the country — from pre-litigation negotiation to winning motions and trials and appeals.
Brienne’s work has earned recognition in leading legal publications. She is ranked in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial (Illinois), where sources describe her as a “top-notch litigator” who is “exceptionally intellectually rigorous, responsive, and creative,” and “great at helping to talk through . . . what the business needs are and the best way to arrive at meeting them” (2025). Legal 500 United States named her a “Key Lawyer” for General Commercial Disputes (2024–2025), praising her as an “effective and zealous advocate” who “take[s] the time to learn about [her] clients and provide them all with the highest level of client service.” Brienne received honors from Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the “Notable Women in Law” (2024) and as a “Rising Star in Law” (2021). The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin selected her among the “Women in Law Leaders” (2024) and as one of the “40 Under Forty” in 2022, and Benchmark Litigation recognized her as one of the “40 and Under” top emerging talents in litigation in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The American Lawyer also included Brienne in its list of Midwest Trailblazers (2021). In addition, she has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” every year since 2014.
Brienne is committed to providing pro bono legal services to clients in need and nonprofits with respect to civil actions and other legal issues that affect their mission and vision.