Background
Portnoy, Elliott Ivan was born on November 1, 1965 in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Son of Donald Charles and Enid Joan (Pallant) Portnoy.
Portnoy, Elliott Ivan was born on November 1, 1965 in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Son of Donald Charles and Enid Joan (Pallant) Portnoy.
Harvard Law School, Juris Doctor, cum laude, 1992Oxford University, Rhodes Scholar, Doctor of Philosophy, 1986-1989Syracuse University, Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, 1986.
Portnoy was previously the chief executive of SNR Denton, a combination between Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal Limited Liability Partnership and Denton Wilde Sapte. At 41 when he took over as chairman of Sonnenschein, he was the youngest partner to serve in the role and the first outside Chicago, where that firm was founded in 1906. As chairman, he oversaw the growth of Sonnenschein to nearly 800 lawyers and other professionals, including the addition of 100 new attorneys from Thacher Proffitt & Wood Limited Liability Partnership on January
1, 2009.
Consistent with Portnoy"s aim to address the globalization of client needs, his leadership transformed Sonnenschien from its Chicago-based roots into the global firm it is today. In line with Portnoy’s business vision, the combination of Dentons and Chinese law firm 大成 was announced in January 2015 which created the world’s largest law firm upon completion. In April 2015, Dentons United States agreed to a merger with Atlanta-based law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge which was completed in June of that year.
In November 2015, Dentons completed its combination with 大成 and now has 125 offices across 50-plus countries, with approximately 6,600 lawyers.
Dentons has been ranked one of the world"s top 20 Global Elite law firms by a survey of in-house counsel around the world. Prior to assuming the Sonnenschein chairmanship, Portnoy was chair of the firm"s Public Law & Policy Strategies Group, which he founded in 2002.
This public policy practice has received national recognition by Chambers United States of America: America"s Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the nation"s leading government relations practices and The National Law Journal magazine ranked the group Number. 8 on its annual “Influence 50” list of the nation’s highest-grossing lobbying practices for 2009.
In 1988 while studying at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, Portnoy founded the organization Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN), which he expanded to Washington, District of Columbia, in 1992.
KEEN is a nonprofit organization that provides sports opportunities to children with severe and profound disabilities. Starting in 2006, the organization expanded beyond Washington, District of Columbia to eight United States. cities. Portnoy also serves on the board of directors of several non-profit foundations including the MetaCancer Foundation.
In 1999, Washingtonian magazine named him "Washingtonian of the Year" for his work with Kids Enjoy Exercise Now.
Founder, president board directors Kids Enjoy Exercise Now Foundation, Washington, Oxford, since 1987. Board directors Jewish Social Services Agency, Washington, since 1996. Executive committee Democratic Young Lawyers Committee, Washington, since 1996.
Member of American Bar Association (vice chair legislation process & lobbying committee).
Married Estee Renee Mermelstein, September 6, 1992. Children: Joshua Brandon, Noah Abraham, Daniela Faye.