Diane Cardona Downs

Diane C. Downs serves as Duane Morris's Chief Legal Talent Officer, leading the firm's global legal talent strategy across the United States, Asia and London. In this role, she oversees lateral partner recruiting, talent management, professional development, performance management and legal talent operations.

Diane joined Duane Morris from Morrison & Foerster, where she served as Chief Legal Talent Officer for 10 years. There, she led the firm's legal talent initiatives and played a key role in its growth, overseeing the onboarding of more than 150 shareholders as well as hundreds of associates and special counsel across the firm's offices.

Prior to Morrison & Foerster, Diane held leadership positions at Akin Gump and Paul Hastings, where she focused on attorney recruiting, professional development and talent management. Before beginning her law firm career, she served as Associate Dean for Career Planning and Placement at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and as Assistant Dean for Career Services at The University of Chicago Law School.

Diane earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. She is based in the firm's Philadelphia office.