Brown Joins WilmerHale as Higher Education Practice Leader
Advisor - People | Feb 18, 2025 | Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

Lisa Brown, an accomplished attorney with significant experience in higher education and federal government, joins WilmerHale as a partner and the leader of their Higher Education Practice Group. Her previous roles include being the general counsel for the US Department of Education and Georgetown University, among others. At WilmerHale, Brown will advise educational institutions on various legal issues such as admissions, antidiscrimination, and sexual misconduct. She brings a wealth of expertise from her prior roles in government, non-profits, and university administration. Her addition aligns with WilmerHale’s strategic focus on providing unparalleled legal services to prestigious college and university clients. Brown's background, including her education at Princeton University and the University of Chicago Law School, complements her new role at the firm’s Washington DC office.
Sectors
- Legal Services
- Higher Education
- Government and Public Administration
Geography
- United States – The article focuses primarily on individuals, institutions, and legal practices within the United States, specifically involving U.S.-based education policies and legal services.
- Washington DC – Brown is joining WilmerHale's Washington DC office, which serves as a central hub for her work and the legal advisement provided to educational institutions.
Industry
- Legal Services – The article describes a significant hire in a law firm's higher education practice, indicating activities within legal services.
- Higher Education – The article involves Lisa Brown representing educational institutions, emphasizing the legal issues faced by the higher education sector.
- Government and Public Administration – Lisa Brown's previous roles in the U.S. Education Department and her work with government bodies highlight the intersection of legal services with public administration.
Financials
Participants
Name | Role | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Lisa Brown | Higher Education Practice Leader | People | Former General Counsel of the US Department of Education, now partner at WilmerHale. |
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | Hiring Firm | Companies | A leading law firm with a focus on higher education among other practice areas. |
US Department of Education | Previous Employer | Government | Lisa Brown's former employer where she served as general counsel. |
Georgetown University | Previous Employer | Companies | Brown served as general counsel and vice president. |
Anjan Sahni | Managing Partner | People | WilmerHale's managing partner commenting on Brown's hire. |