Barbara F. Dunn
BARBARA DUNN is an attorney and partner with Howe & Hutton, a law firm which specializes in the representation of individuals, firms and organizations in the travel, tourism, hospitality, incentive and meetings industries, as well as not-for-profit organizations, including trade associations, professional societies and other related organizations. The firm has offices in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and St. Louis and serves as general counsel to Meeting Professionals International among hundreds of others.
Barbara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago where she was a member of the Editorial Board of the John Marshall Law Review.
Barbara works with many individuals and organizations in the meetings industry including corporate and independent planners, as well as suppliers to the industry. She has written numerous articles on a wide range of legal issues and is a frequent speaker for MPI and its chapters, the MPI Foundation's Platinum Series programs, SGMP, PCMA, HSMAI, ASAE and its affiliated societies, and other groups in the meetings, travel and hospitality industries. She was the 2005-2006 Chair of the ASAE Legal Section Council- the first woman to serve in such a leadership role. Barbara is also a member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys and currently serves on its Board of Directors.
Areas of Practice
- Hospitality Law
- Travel Law
- Contracts
- Employment Law
- Computer Law
- Trademark
- Copyright Law
- Corporate Law for Not for Profit Corporations
- Intellectual Property and Internet Law
- Business Organizations
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1992
- Missouri, 1999
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1992
Education
- John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois
- Juris Doctorate
- Law Review: John Marshall Law Review, Member of the Editorial Board, 1990 - 1992
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Political Science - 1989
Classes/Seminars
- Frequent Speaker, Legal Issues of Interest to Industry Trade Associations, Professional Societies and Other Not-for-Profit Organizations
Honors and Awards
- First woman to serve as Chair of the Legal Section Council for ASAE, 2005 - 2006
- Student Recognition Award, University of Michigan, 1989
- Certificate of Appreciation, American Society of Association Executives, 2006
- Certificate of Appreciation, Chicago Bar Association, 1999
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Member
- Illinois Bar Association, Member
- Missouri Bar Association, Member, 1999 - Present
- St. Louis Bar Association, Member, 1999 - Present
- Chicago Bar Association, Member
- St. Louis Society of Association Executives, Member
- Association Forum of Chicagoland, Member, 1994 - Present
- Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, Member, Board of Directors, 2009 - Present
- American Society of Association Executives, Chair, Legal Section Council, 2005 - 2006
- American Society of Association Executives, Vice Chair, Legal Section Council, 2004 - 2005
- American Society of Association Executives, Chair, Technology Resources Committee, 2006 - 2007
- Association Law & Policy newsletter, Chair, Editorial Committee, 2003
- Chicago Legal Symposium, Chair, 2003
- Chicago Bar Association Trade & Professional Association Law Committee, Chair, 1998 - 1999
- Chicago Bar Association Trade & Professional Association Law Committee, Member, 1992 - 1999
- Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, Member, 2007 - Present
- Better Business Bureau Charity Advisory Committee, Member, 2004 - Present
Past Employment Positions
- Chicago Bar Association's Trade and Professional Association Committee, Chair, 1998 - 1999
- ASAE Legal Section Council, 2002 - 2007
- ASAE Legal Section Council, Chair, 2005 - 2006
Pro Bono Activities
- Member, Board of Directors of the American Brain Tumor Association, 2005 - Present
- Co-Chair, St. Louis Fall Festival to benefit the American Brain Tumor Association, 2008 - Present
