Elliott Portnoy is the Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dentons, the largest law firm in the world.
As Global CEO, Elliott is responsible for management of the global Firm and its unwavering commitment to integrated client service across 158 offices in 66 countries. Under Elliott’s leadership, Dentons is experiencing a period of exceptional growth and success.
Prior to the formation of Dentons, Elliott served as the youngest chairman of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, which later became SNR Denton, one of the legacy firms that combined to create Dentons. He joined Sonnenschein in 2002, founding its public policy practice and building a bipartisan cadre of lawyers and policy professionals into a team that Legal Times’ "Influence 50" survey called one of Washington, DC’s "top 10 lobbying practices." Roll Call ranked the practice as one of the top 25 in the US, and Chambers USA designated it one of the firm's outstanding practices.
Community service has been a constant in Elliott’s life. In addition to serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, he founded and remains president of the board of Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN), an innovative nonprofit that provides sports opportunities to children with severe and profound disabilities in the US and the UK. KEEN serves children in Washington, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Oxford, Phoenix, San Francisco and St. Louis. The organization has trained more than 40,000 volunteers to serve young people with disabilities.
That same commitment to social responsibility is reflected in Dentons' support of nonprofit organizations and its partnerships with clients to improve local communities. Elliott promotes pro bono legal work and diversity as vital components of the Firm’s mission and has been a vocal advocate of Dentons' relationships with nonprofit organizations around the world.
Elliott earned his PhD as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Syracuse University.
Recognition
Elliott has been recognized as a prominent public policy lawyer by multiple publications and organizations, including successive editions of Chambers USA, most recently as a "Top Washington Lawyer." He has also been called "inspiring" and a "dynamic and ambitious go-getter" by the Washington Business Journal, and cited as one of the top lobbyists in the nation by Washingtonian magazine. In addition, he has received multiple awards from nonprofit organizations for his community service and pro bono contributions.
