Kristen Limarzi, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, was appointed chair of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Practice Group, a role she earned through a combination of legal excellence, mentorship, and leadership without relying on formal titles. Her journey, as detailed in a Bloomberg Law profile from August 2025, offers insights into how she rose to this position and her philosophy that leadership is about action, not titles.
Key Points from Limarzi’s Approach
- Leadership Without a Title:
- Limarzi emphasized that leadership is demonstrated through initiative, not just formal roles. She began taking on leadership responsibilities early, such as mentoring younger attorneys and coordinating team efforts, without waiting for a title. “You don’t need a title to be a leader,” she told Bloomberg Law, highlighting that influence comes from building trust and delivering results.
- She fostered a collaborative culture within her practice group, encouraging associates to take ownership of cases and share ideas, which built her reputation as a natural leader.
- Path to Chair:
- Career Background: Limarzi joined Gibson Dunn in 2008 after serving as a trial attorney and later chief of the Legal Policy Section at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. Her DOJ experience, including high-profile cases like the Microsoft antitrust litigation, gave her deep expertise in competition law.
- Firm Contributions: At Gibson Dunn, she handled major antitrust matters, including mergers, litigation, and regulatory investigations, earning recognition as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA and The Legal 500. Her work on cases like defending Google in antitrust suits showcased her strategic acumen.
- Appointment as Chair: Limarzi was named co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition Practice Group alongside Rachel Brass and later became sole chair. Her appointment stemmed from her track record of winning cases, mentoring colleagues, and driving the group’s growth in a competitive legal market.
- Key Strategies for Success:
- Mentorship and Team Building: Limarzi prioritized mentoring associates, sharing credit, and fostering a supportive environment. She advised young lawyers to “be curious, ask questions, and take risks,” which she practiced herself by tackling complex cases early in her career.
- Client Focus: She built strong client relationships by understanding their business needs and delivering practical solutions, particularly in high-stakes antitrust matters involving tech giants and global mergers.
- Adaptability: Limarzi navigated the evolving antitrust landscape, including increased scrutiny of Big Tech, by staying ahead of regulatory trends and leveraging her DOJ experience to anticipate enforcement priorities.
- Philosophy on Leadership:
- Limarzi believes leadership is about empowering others. She rejected the notion that a title defines influence, instead focusing on actions like volunteering for tough assignments, supporting colleagues, and driving innovation in legal strategies.
- She emphasized inclusivity, ensuring diverse voices in her practice group were heard, which strengthened team cohesion and client outcomes.
- Broader Impact:
- As chair, Limarzi has shaped Gibson Dunn’s antitrust practice into a powerhouse, handling cases that influence global competition law. Her leadership aligns with the firm’s reputation, ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global for antitrust work.
- Her story resonates amid discussions on X about women in leadership, with posts praising her as a role model for breaking barriers in Big Law without relying on formal authority.
Why It Matters
Limarzi’s rise to practice group chair illustrates that leadership in high-stakes legal environments depends on expertise, relationships, and proactive contributions, not just titles. Her approach offers a blueprint for aspiring lawyers, particularly women in male-dominated fields like antitrust, where only 25% of partners at top firms are women, per a 2024 ABA study. Her emphasis on mentorship and collaboration also counters the “lone wolf” stereotype of Big Law success, showing that empowering others can elevate both individual and firm-wide success.
Sources
- Bloomberg Law, “How I Made Practice Group Chair: Kristen Limarzi,” August 2025
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher website, attorney profile
- Chambers USA and The Legal 500 rankings
- X posts reflecting sentiment on women in legal leadership (inconclusive, used for context)
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