Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni's Summer 2021 Digest
NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks Tap NBA Lawyer to Fill First Legal Role: Marcus LeBeouf (Spring 2001) hired as General Counsel
NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks have looked to the National Basketball Association for the team’s first general counsel, hiring Marcus LeBeouf from the Charlotte Hornets. LeBeouf, a former counsel at Seyfarth Shaw and a predecessor to Lathrop GPM, told Bloomberg Law via email that he joined the Blackhawks two weeks ago. He also confirmed he’s among the first three Black legal chiefs employed by an NHL team, all of whom have been recruited within the past year.
LeBeouf’s new role with the Blackhawks was hailed on LinkedIn by two schools he graduated from — Morehouse College and the Duke University School of Law — as being an important milestone for the advancement of Black lawyers in professional sports. Both schools noted that LeBeouf has joined a small group of Black general counsel in the NHL, which has sought to become more diverse in recent years. The former political science major at Morehouse earned his B.A. in 2003 and later earned his J.D. from Duke University Law School in 2006. While at Duke, Marcus spent time serving the Raleigh-Durham community through the Children's Education Law and AIDS Law clinics -- two of his most memorable and meaningful experiences while at Duke Law.
“It is an honor and a blessing to join the Blackhawks’ leadership team,” said LeBeouf, crediting newly hired Blackhawks president of business operations, Jaime Faulkner, and newly promoted club CEO Danny Wirtz with having faith in him to "protect their interests” for several Blackhawks-related entities.
One of the few NHL teams with a Black general counsel is the Seattle Kraken, an expansion franchise planning to take the ice in 2022, which hired Hewan Teshome last summer. The other is Nigel Wheeler, a former real estate associate at Bracewell in Dallas, who joined the Carolina Hurricanes in April 2020 as general counsel, replacing William Traurig, now legal chief for the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Pictured above: Brother LeBeouf, second from left, pictured as a panelist on the topic on The Art of Building Book of Business for BigLaw Atlanta (2017).
LeBeouf is the top lawyer for the Blackhawks, the team’s nonprofit foundation, and its practice facility at Chicago’s Fifth Third Arena, as well as the Rockford IceHogs, a minor league affiliate in nearby Rockford, Ill. LeBeouf will also advise on matters involving the United Center, a 20,000-seat arena that the Blackhawks share with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. The Blackhawks are owned by W. Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, CEO of the Wirtz Corp., a privately held conglomerate. The company and the Blackhawks have had a longtime client relationship with Chicago-based law firm Gozdecki, Del Giudice, Americus, Farkas & Brocato, whose founding partner Eugene Gozdecki was the Wirtz Corp.’s general counsel until his death in 2012.
The Blackhawks hired LeBeouf after he spent nearly four years as an assistant general counsel for the Hornets, an NBA team owned by basketball great Michael Jordan that in February hired a new legal chief of its own in Tamara Daniels, most recently the top lawyer for the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
Pictured above: Alpha Rho Alumni from the Inexorable 14, Synergistic 22 and Cataclysmic 22 captured in June 2021. Brother LeBeouf is picture 4th from the left.
Life at Deloitte: The importance of giving back. Finding the parallel between principles of community building and fostering relationships (Bro. Jonathan Green, Spring 2007)
“When I was growing up in Chicago, a lot of the exposure to opportunities around me came from others giving back to their community.”
Having a positive impact on his community has always been a priority for Jonathan. After raising his hand to lead the Operation Smile charity effort his senior year in high school, Jonathan went on to Morehouse College, an institution that stresses the importance of preparing young men to change the world through ethical leadership and community service.
“I started out in high school, just trying to fill my college resume, and ended up realizing one of my passions. In college, I joined a fraternity that also focuses on developing leaders, promoting brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities. It was a natural fit for me and helped shape me for the real world.”
Jonathan started his career after college at another company but learned after a few short years that he needed to find a place that would give him the opportunity to grow and try new things. He had heard great things about Deloitte and applied for a role in Washington, DC serving Government and Public Services clients. “Before workplace culture was a thing, it was important to me. When I joined [Deloitte] in 2012, I learned the rumors were true.”
He thrived in the client service environment as he quickly saw the parallel between principles of community building and fostering relationships. “It’s not just about delivering a project and moving onto the next. To be truly successful, we should walk in the shoes of our clients, be less transactional and more like a strategic advisor to our clients. We’re on the journey together.”
Pictured above: Brother Green is the current Board Chairman (and a founder) for Atlanta Unbound Academy located in College Park, Georgia.
In 2018 Jonathan moved with his wife to Atlanta. Deloitte assisted him through this transition not only to a new office, but also a new sector of clients. It’s been a great move for him personally and professionally. His wife has family in Atlanta, and he went to school there, so it was great settling down in the area and avoiding DC or Chicago winters!
Once Jonathan established roots, it was time to find out how he would be able to give back to the Atlanta community. A friend from college reached out and told him about their plan to open a charter school in the area. For the next two years, Jonathan and his friend laid the groundwork and jumped multiple hurdles to open the school. “At Deloitte, you learn the importance of networking and following your passions and interests. I used those same principles to help fundraise and make some key connections in Atlanta that we needed. In a way, my career at Deloitte was shaping me for this moment.”
The Atlanta Unbound Academy (AUA) was one of only a few charter school applications that were accepted and approved to open in 2020. The school focuses on providing a rigorous, empowering, and culturally relevant education to students in Atlanta, and Jonathan is serving as their Board Chair. “Our very first day of school ever was virtual! We were so excited to open, and then COVID hit. The leadership team had to take our learning model and translate it into a virtual format.”
While it hasn’t been without its challenges, their first year has still been a success, and Jonathan and the board have been connecting with families and providing the support they need during this difficult time. AUA provides daily meals, free family mental health counseling sessions, and access to technology via laptops and internet hotspots for each student while school is virtual. The Atlanta Unbound team is looking forward to the possibility of in-person classes starting Fall 2021 and is currently planning for their next school year.
Pictured above: Chairman Green at far right, alongside Atlanta Unbound Academy Founding School Leader Alaina Chipman-Leeks, at center.
For Jonathan, despite the extraordinary first year, he is looking forward to what’s to come. “Giving back is about finding a fit between your passions and your existing commitments to family and career. Whether large or small, it is its own gift to your community and will have a lasting impact.”
Jonathan Green is a manager in Deloitte’s Cyber practice. He serves clients in the Technology industry and helps them identify and prepare for information security risks through ongoing enhancements of their data protection and security compliance programs.
Pictured above: Members of the Veracious 17 (Spring 2007) at the Alpha Rho 90th Anniversary Memorial Obelisk on the Morehouse College Campus in Atlanta, Georgia.
Brother Louis Jared Boyd (Spring 2002) Tapped To Serve As Chief Of Staff For Incoming St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones
Brother L. Jared Boyd was recently appointed to serve as the Chief of Staff and Counsel for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. Mayor Jones was sworn-in as the first Black female mayor in the City's history on April 20th, 2021. Mayor Jones is poised to harness the boundless potential of the incredible people of their great City and turn challenges into opportunities, change entrenched systems, and reform the way the City works.
Pictured above: Historic St. Louis City Hall.
Prior to this appointment he served as the Chief of Staff and Counsel in the St. Louis City Treasurer's Office. There, he directly oversaw both the St. Louis Treasury Department and Parking Division which includes 150 employees and an $18 million annual budget. In his responsibilities for the Treasury Department, he managed over $400 million under management, payroll, and accounting functions for the City of St. Louis. He was responsible for the legal affairs of the Treasurer’s Office as well, which included drafting and reviewing contracts, collaborating with outside counsel on litigation matters, drafting legislation, and providing employment law advice for the office.
He has previously worked with Bryan Cave as an Associate Attorney and with Coro Pittsburgh as a Fellow in Public Affairs. Jared has also served on the boards of local humanitarian organizations for the past 10 years, including such organization as St. Louis ArtWorks, the United Way of Greater St. Louis, and the Mound City Bar Association.