Managing Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
Patricia Brown Holmes is the first African-American woman to lead and have her name on the door of a major law firm that is not women- or minority-owned. She has 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, assistant state’s attorney for Cook County, and Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel for Municipal Prosecutions for the city of Chicago.
Patricia is also a Founding Member and Past President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization, and was named one of the Most Influential Minority Lawyers in Chicago in 2017 by Crain’s Chicago Business.
As Managing Partner, Patricia recognizes the importance of diversity for her firm’s success: “Diversity at all levels is an essential element of who we are, but our foundation rests on providing value to our clients as they define value. And, increasingly, our clients recognize and demand the value of having diverse teams at their service.”
Joined LCLD 2018
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Fellows Program
Fellows nominated:
2023: Monique Howery; 2022: Kalia Coleman; 2021: Jamal Muhammad, Simone Randolph
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinders selected:
2023: Jasmine Morton, Erin Gasparka; 2022: David Aguilar, Nacente Seabury; 2021: Nathan Howze, Raymond Rushing
1L Scholar's Program
Participated in 2020 Virtual Scholar's Summit
Attendance
Annual Meeting (2018)
Member: Patricia Brown Holmes
Diversity Contacts: Edward Casmere, Brian Watson
Communications: Therese Squillo
