Deanna Brown

Deanna Brown, Of Counsel, Heyl Royster in Peoria, Illinois, is an accomplished attorney with more than 25 years of experience in business law and intellectual property. Recognized for her pragmatic and results-driven approach, Deanna has built a career advising companies on corporate governance, commercial transactions, compliance, and intellectual property protection. Her clients value her ability to combine practical business insight with deep legal expertise, helping them structure transactions and resolve disputes efficiently across multiple jurisdictions.

Deanna earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law, attended St. Catherine’s College at the University of Oxford, and holds a B.A. with distinction from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Licensed to practice in California and Massachusetts, she developed a global perspective early in her career.

Before joining Heyl Royster, Deanna practiced at premier firms such as Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto and Pepper Hamilton in Irvine, where she focused on intellectual property licensing and corporate transactions. She later served as in-house counsel for major corporations, including Skyworks Solutions, Viasat, ZeroAvia, and Enbridgement. Her work spans contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, real estate, employment, and environmental compliance, as well as mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

Deanna Brown’s extensive experience includes facilitating joint ventures between U.S. and Chinese companies, advising on international licensing agreements, and developing corporate compliance programs. Since returning to the Midwest in 2024, she has continued to apply her global expertise to guide clients through intricate business and intellectual property matters. Her combination of strategic foresight, negotiation skill, and legal precision makes her a trusted advisor in high-stakes corporate transactions.

Law Office Affiliations

• Of Counsel, Heyl Royster
• Member, State Bar of California
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, American Corporate Counsel Association
• Member, San Diego Board of Directors (2020-2023)

Licensed State

• California
• Massachusetts

Education

• Boston University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Illinois
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)
  

Awards & Badges