Warren L. Dennis

DENNIS
WARREN L., ESQ., on Jan. 31, 2004, a native Philadelphian, and a partner in Proskauer Rose LLP's Washington, D.C. office. passed away unexpectedly while in the process of doing a good deed for another person. He was only 55 years old. As was apparent from the eulogies, Warren touched many lives while helping other people. He was a "lawyer's lawyer" displayed by the fact that he consistently earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and adversaries alike. Warren volunteered his time and resources to friends and even casual acquaintances if he sensed they needed financial, moral or personal help. Throughout the year Warren and his family volunteered at shelters in the Washington, D.C. area helping those in need. He was an avid supporter of causes that were important to the Jewish people. Warren most enjoyed his position as Chair of the Business Advisory Board and Editorial Advisory Board of Moment Magazine. He freely gave his time, energy and intellect to the many organizations on whose boards he served. He was a devoted father and a wise patriarch who gave of himself, his time and wisdom for his immediate and extended family. His wisdom and sense of justice were unparalleled. Warren L. Dennis was a partner in Proskauer Rose LLP's Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department and formerly served as head of the Firm's Washington, D.C. office. His practice involved complex commercial and financial services litigation, as well as defense of federal government enforcement proceedings in courts around the country and before federal enforcement and regulatory agencies. Warren practiced law for over thity years since 1972, when he joined the Attorney General's Honors Program in the United States Department of Justice. Prior to working at Proskauer, Warren was a partner at the Philadelphia firm of Ballard, Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP. Warren graduated from Central High School, located in Philadelphia where he served as Vice President of his class. After completing the University of Pennsylvania in three years (Political Science Honors Program), he attended the Law School of University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1972. Warren began practicing law in 1972 in the Attorney General's Honors Program in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice. While there, he chaired the Department's Task Force on Financing Discrimination and helped initiate the government's enforcement program in connection with sex discrimination in lending, racial redlining and community reinvestment. Both in and out of the government he helped design and implement bank examiner training and compliance programs for the federal bank regulatory agencies.
Warren published and lectured widely on topics involving litigation in the financial services area and third-party liability when financial transactions and institutions fail. He represented the Director of the United States Secret Service in connection with the Grand Jury investigation into the impeachment of the President of the United States. He also served as counsel to every living former head of the Presidential Protection Division of the Secret Service with respect to the question of a Secret Service Protective Privilege in those same proceedings. He also successfully represented the two Secret Service agents wrongfully accused of perjury in Congressional testimony in the Filegate controversy, obtaining their complete exoneration and a public apology by their accuser, the then-Inspector General of the Treasury Department. Warren served as outside counsel to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), established by Congress as a law enforcement clearinghouse to coordinate efforts to rescue missing and abused children nationwide. Warren's civic leadership activities included the following: Board of Trustees, Washington, D.C. Council on Court Excellence, Chair, Business Advisory Board and Member, Editorial Advisory Board; Biblical Archaeology Society, Moment Magazine, Bible Review, Odyssey Magazine, Co-Founder, Project Shelter, serving homeless
shelters in the District of Columbia, Pro Bono Counsel, Southeast Neighborhood House, Inc., serving children in the Anacostia Neighborhood of Washington, D.C., National Commissioner, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Vice-Chair, National Capital Region of the ADL, Board of Trustees, PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, Editorial Advisory Board, Emily Card's Money Letter for Women. Warren leaves his bereaved wife Diane (Lipton) Dennis, 2 children Joanna Dennis and Seth Dennis, 2 sisters Joy Hoffman and Hope Hoffman, one brother Robert Dennis. As the many people who mourned his death revealed their individual relationships with Warren, a life of boundless giving became apparent. The charity closest to Warren's heart was Washington Heart Center Foundation, a division of Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20010