WilmerHale

Partner Vice Chair, Anti-Discrimination Practice

Brenda Lee represents companies, universities, and individuals in a broad range of investigations and related proceedings, including white collar criminal, securities enforcement, anti–money laundering (AML), and anti-discrimination matters. She has extensive experience representing financial institutions, tech companies, and individuals in parallel proceedings, including overlapping criminal and civil investigations. The vice-chair of the firm’s Anti-Discrimination Practice, Ms. Lee regularly conducts sensitive internal investigations and reviews of company culture following reports of sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination and advises clients on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Ms. Lee has represented clients in investigations and enforcement proceedings brought by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, FinCEN, state Attorneys General, and various Inspectors General. She has defended financial institutions, corporations, and individuals against allegations of securities fraud, Bank Secrecy Act/AML program violations, government contracting fraud, and other state and federal violations. She has conducted numerous internal investigations, both in the US and abroad, often involving allegations of fraud or financial reporting violations.

Ms. Lee has substantial experience representing companies and universities in anti-discrimination matters and advising on issues related to gender and race. She regularly handles internal investigations and broader racial equity audits or workplace culture reviews in the wake of allegations of harassment and discrimination across a broad range of industries, including financial institutions, technology and social media companies, and non-profit organizations. Ms. Lee also advises clients on best practices for effectively responding to harassment and discrimination complaints and developing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Ms. Lee shares the firm's commitment to pro bono work, with an emphasis on children's law issues. In addition, she has represented multiple criminal defendants in Maryland state courts, including an individual who successfully challenged his life-term prison sentence on constitutional grounds.

Professional Activities

Ms. Lee serves on the Board of Directors of the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. She also has a longstanding relationship with the Children's Law Center and previously served on its Advisory Board. She is a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of DC.

Ms. Lee is co-hiring partner for the DC office and a member of the firm's Diversity Committee and Pro Bono and Community Service Committee.

District of Columbia New York

JD, Harvard Law School, 2007 AB, Biochemical Sciences, Harvard College, 2004