Benesch’s Marisa Darden Named Finalist for Best Mentor in The American Lawyer (ALM) Industry Awards

Benesch is pleased to announce that Marisa Darden, Lead of the firm’s White Collar, Government Investigations & Regulatory Compliance Practice, has been named a finalist in the Best Mentor category of The American Lawyer (ALM) Industry Awards.

The Best Mentor award recognizes attorneys who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to developing the next generation of legal talent. Since joining Benesch in 2023, Marisa has made mentorship a hallmark of her leadership, helping grow the firm’s White Collar, Government Investigations & Regulatory Compliance Practice while creating meaningful opportunities for attorneys at every stage of their careers. She is intentional about fostering an environment where attorneys feel supported, valued and challenged to develop their skills through exposure to sophisticated investigations, regulatory matters and complex litigation.

Marisa’s commitment to mentoring extends well beyond the firm. She serves on the board of College Now, helping students explore higher education and career opportunities, and is actively involved with The Links, Incorporated, which supports the cultural and economic advancement of persons of African ancestry and professional women of African descent. Within the legal profession, she invests in the development of emerging attorneys through leadership roles with the Federal Bar Association’s Northern District of Ohio Chapter and board service with the William K. Thomas Inn of Court and the Duke Law Alumni Association. Whether advising students, mentoring junior attorneys or supporting professionals seeking to advance their careers, Marisa consistently dedicates her time, experience and insight to helping others grow and succeed.

“Marisa is an exceptional lawyer, leader and mentor who is deeply invested in the success of others,” said Benesch Managing Partner Gregg Eisenberg. “She consistently devotes her time and energy to helping attorneys grow professionally and personally, and the impact she has had on colleagues across the firm is remarkable. We are thrilled to see her named a finalist.”

In her practice, Marisa advises companies, executives, boards and individuals facing high-stakes civil, criminal and regulatory matters. A former state and federal prosecutor, she counsels clients in investigations and prosecutions involving financial crime, public corruption, corporate misconduct, regulated industries and high-profile issues at the intersection of business, sports, entertainment and the law. She has successfully tried more than 15 complex criminal cases to verdict and has argued before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Finalists will be recognized and winners announced at The American Lawyer Industry Awards on November 12 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

See the full list of honorees here: Industry Awards Finalists Announced | Law.com