The Light in the Night: ILAO's Annual Benefit Event

Our 25th anniversary also honors the legacy of Heather Russell. 

Heather J. Russell is an accomplished legal executive with more than 25 years of experience in global financial services and technology. Since 2018, she has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of TransUnion (NYSE: TRU), where she leads legal, risk, compliance, privacy, government relations, public affairs, and ESG functions for a team of 450 professionals across 36 countries. She serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on governance, strategy, and high-stakes legal matters — including TransUnion's win before the U.S. Supreme Court in TransUnion v. Ramirez.

Before joining TransUnion, Heather held senior roles at Fifth Third Bancorp (as EVP and CLO), Bank of New York Mellon, and Bank of America. She began her career at Skadden, Arps in Washington and London, where she focused on bank regulatory matters, consumer financial services, international corporate finance and M&A.

Heather is a committed civic leader with a particular focus on financial inclusion and access to justice. She chairs the board of the Consumer Data Industry Association, the trade association for the consumer reporting industry, and also serves on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In Chicago, Heather is an active member of the Commercial Club and the Economic Club of Chicago, and a board member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, where she serves on the Executive Committee. She also founded an award-winning corporate pro bono program that provides free legal services in communities where TransUnion operates.

Her contributions have recently been recognized with the Legal 500/American Bar Association Outstanding Contribution Award, the Legal Aid Society Equal Access to Justice Award, and the New York Lawyers Association Award for Leadership and Accomplishment in the Legal Profession.

Heather holds a B.A. from the College of William & Mary and a J.D. with honors from American University's Washington College of Law, where she served as Senior Editor of The Law Review and received the Outstanding Graduate Award.

ILAO is proud to announce Lauren Beslow as its 2026 benefit chair. Lauren is General Counsel at Crowe, a leading public accounting firm, where she oversees the firm’s legal affairs and advises leadership on risk management and mitigation strategies. She specializes in litigation and dispute resolution, regulatory matters, contract negotiation, and counseling firm professionals on proactive risk prevention practices.

Lauren brings more than 20 years of litigation experience to her role. Prior to joining Crowe, she was a partner in the Chicago office of a national law firm, where she represented clients in a wide range of commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters.

Lauren earned her B.A. from Emory University and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.