Amanda M. Bruno

At Morgan Lewis, we are always ready to respond to the needs of our clients and craft powerful solutions for them. From our offices in strategic hubs of commerce, law, and government across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East we provide comprehensive corporate, transactional, litigation, and regulatory legal services for clients ranging from startups to global Fortune 100 companies.

Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 1,250 characters):

Amanda M. Bruno has led Morgan Lewis's global business development function since 2017, overseeing a team of business professionals across 30+ offices and four continents. A lawyer by training who began her career at the firm as a litigator in 2004, she has been a driving force in shaping the firm's client development strategy and strengthening relationships with top clients. Under her leadership, Morgan Lewis achieved significant revenue growth in their 2024 fiscal year, with gross revenue reported at over $3.09 billion and expanded business among key clients by more than 35%.

Amanda has pioneered innovative programs including the firm's award-winning Exceptional Client Service Program, which engaged every member of the firm in client service training, and the Client Alliance Program, which has generated record new matter openings and double-digit client growth. In 2025 she revamped the firm's approach to legal directory submissions resulting in a significant increase in firm recognition and accolades and successfully increased the number of engagements through competitive "Preferred Provider Panel" RFP responses.

Citing her leadership and collaborative approach in working with key stakeholders to drive client-centric strategy and ensure the delivery of exceptional service, Amanda was recognized as a Platinum Winner of the Noble Business Awards and among Women We Admire's Top 25 Women Chief Business Development Officers of 2025.

Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1, 2023 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 1,500 characters):

In the past year Amanda's three most notable achievements include the following.

Amanda successfully spearheaded the firm's strategy to increase recognition in legal directories, moving Morgan Lewis into the #2 position for practice rankings. From 2024 to 2025, Morgan Lewis improved its new individual rankings in Chambers by 92%, from 24 to 46, and exceeded rankings for practice groups and individuals.

The firm was recognized with 315 individual lawyer rankings, of which 46 were new individual rankings. Within the individual rankings, 48 of these recognitions are Band 1 individual lawyer rankings. The rankings are the result of Chambers and Partners' research and interviews with clients and members of the legal community.

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Finally, through the firm's strategic initiatives, Amanda identified how the trending private equity area could lead to new business opportunities and launched a webinar series "In the Know." This five-part program averaged 150+ attendees per session including 30% of the audience comprised of senior executives/C-suite level audience members, accounting for a 46% attendance rate. One recurring attendee noted, "The format with a person asking questions was very engaging. The varied information from different regions of the country and the world was helpful."

Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 1,500 characters):

With over two decades of experience in strategic growth, client relationship management, and revenue generation, Amanda is a dynamic leader at the intersection of law, business, and innovation. In her role, Amanda drives initiatives that strengthen Morgan Lewis' competitive edge, deepen client relationships, and support sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. Her expertise in building trusted partnerships has been instrumental in securing high-profile clients and expanding the firm's presence in key global markets.

Amanda's success is driven in part by her enduring loyalty and commitment to Morgan Lewis spanning her entire career. Overall executive turnover rate across various industries was estimated at 16.4% alone in Q1 2025, and it's common to see legal chief-level marketing and business development executives move from firm to firm.

Throughout her tenure at Morgan Lewis, Amanda has led transformative projects, including designing and implementing all aspects of the firm's Client Service Program, including the Client Feedback Program, the Client Alliance Program, the partner Business Development Programs, and the Alumni Relations Program.

Amanda regularly speaks at industry conferences and is a recognized thought leader and one of a few legal professionals selected to contribute thought leadership for Law360's Legal Industry Editorial Advisory Board, which she has done since 2022. In 2025, Amanda received a 2025 Silver

Stevie Award for "Business Development Executive of the Year" in the Sales & Customer Service category, and in 2024 she was named the Female Executive of the Year in the business development category by the International Awards Associate, together with the TITAN Women in Business Awards.

Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 1,500 characters):

In addition to the press releases describing Amanda's recent accolades (see attachments), the quotes below from firm leaders describe Amanda's outstanding leadership and contributions to the firm.

"Business development isn't just about winning work-it's about building relationships, offering help where needed, and providing meaningful value for our clients and our lawyers. Our strategy only works because our people believe in it and execute on it every single day."

"Clients today expect more than excellent legal work - that is table stakes. In addition, they expect us to understand their industry and business, anticipate their needs, and deliver a practical, actionable solution consistent with their business goals. Our growth is a reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the deep relationships we've built across industries and time zones."

"Our Exceptional Client Service program changed the conversation inside the firm. It empowered every professional-regardless of title or tenure-to think like a client and act like an owner."