Partner Dawn Smalls Named a Woman of Influence by Crain's New York Business 

Crain's New York Business has named Partner Dawn Smalls to its 2026 Women of Influence list. Dawn is one of only four lawyers recognized on this year's list, which honors leaders across New York's nonprofits, law firms, financial institutions, and public agencies who are reshaping how the city operates and elevating their peers in the process.

Dawn's profile highlights her career spanning government, politics, philanthropy, and private practice. At Jenner & Block, she advises clients on complex policy, political, and governance issues that have significant implications for their business. Her work includes leading a class action seeking safe shelter for single adult New Yorkers experiencing homelessness during the pandemic and representing plaintiffs in a national class action against agencies that colluded to pay low wages to au pairs.

Earlier in her career, Dawn served as assistant to the White House chief of staff during the Clinton administration and helped implement the Affordable Care Act as executive secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama.

Beyond her legal work, Dawn serves on the boards of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and is a dedicated advocate for women's leadership, mentoring colleagues at her firm and supporting women in politics.

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

Partner Dawn Smalls Named a Woman of Influence by Crain's New York Business 

Crain's New York Business has named Partner Dawn Smalls to its 2026 Women of Influence list. Dawn is one of only four lawyers recognized on this year's list, which honors leaders across New York's nonprofits, law firms, financial institutions, and public agencies who are reshaping how the city operates and elevating their peers in the process.

Dawn's profile highlights her career spanning government, politics, philanthropy, and private practice. At Jenner & Block, she advises clients on complex policy, political, and governance issues that have significant implications for their business. Her work includes leading a class action seeking safe shelter for single adult New Yorkers experiencing homelessness during the pandemic and representing plaintiffs in a national class action against agencies that colluded to pay low wages to au pairs.

Earlier in her career, Dawn served as assistant to the White House chief of staff during the Clinton administration and helped implement the Affordable Care Act as executive secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama.

Beyond her legal work, Dawn serves on the boards of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and is a dedicated advocate for women's leadership, mentoring colleagues at her firm and supporting women in politics.

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

News and Insights

Publications

EPA’s Power Plant Rule Adds to a Predictably Volatile Landscape, Bloomberg Law

Partner Amanda Shafer Berman and Meghan Greenfield authored an article for Bloomberg Law on the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent repeal of most Biden-era greenhouse gas standards for power plants and the litigation that followed.

October 21, 2026

Recognition

Lawdragon Names Eight Jenner & Block Partners to 2027 500 Leading Dealmakers in America List

Lawdragon has named eight Jenner & Block partners to its 2027 500 Leading Dealmakers in America guide, which recognizes the lawyers behind the most significant transactions in the United States. The honorees practice in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York across M&A, corporate, securities, private equity, and finance.

October 19, 2026

Event

Amanda Shafer Berman to Speak on Energy and Administrative Law at WEN-DC Webinar

As the Supreme Court's new Term begins, Jenner & Block Partner Amanda Shafer Berman will join a Women's Energy Network of Washington, DC (WEN-DC) webinar on how the Court's decisions are shaping the energy sector.

October 14, 2026

Publications

Partner Amanda Shafer Berman Quoted in Bloomberg Law on Senate Permitting Overhaul Bill

Partner Amanda Shafer Berman was quoted in an October 5 Bloomberg Law article, "Permitting Deal Gives Projects Defense Against Litigation Delays," on the Senate's new permitting overhaul package and its expected impact on litigation over federal permitting reversals.

October 2026