Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, announces today that Mary Ann Hynes has been selected to Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders for 2021, a special editorial feature. Hynes serves as senior counsel in the Firm’s Chicago office.

A founding board member of Girls Inc. of Chicago, Hynes was chosen as a nonprofit board leader for her efforts to advance the cause of the organization and raise its profile in the community, which she has done by leveraging her skills, capabilities and network to connect the organization with those that have provided financial and volunteer support. Additionally, Hynes co-chairs the organization’s Board Development Committee where she is responsible for governance, recruitment, strategic planning, board training and compliance. In the past 18 months, she has personally recruited two high-profile women to join the organization’s board, increasing the size of the board by 11%.

An accomplished and highly regarded lawyer, Hynes has deep experience in the areas of governance, compliance and mergers and acquisitions, with a special focus on international growth, innovation, strategy and risk management. Known for her many firsts in the industry, Hynes was the first female general counsel for a Fortune 500 company while at CCH Inc., a leading provider of information services, software and workflow tools for tax, accounting, legal and business professionals. She was also the first female officer of Sundstrand Corporation, the first female member of the North Shore General Counsel Association and the first female officer of the Chicago Crime Commission.

In addition to Girls Inc. of Chicago, Hynes has been a board member of several corporations and nonprofit organizations, including the Dr. Scholl Foundation, 2020 Women on Boards, the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Bar Foundation and the John Marshall Law School. She is also a frequent industry speaker and an advocate of opportunities for women in law and of championing the cause of diversity in the legal profession.