Tonya Major Gauff
PartnerEducation
- J.D., Northwestern University School of Law 2009
Dean's List - M.P.A., University of Texas at Austin 2003
Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow
Ellen McAngus Ezel Scholarship for Academic Achievement - B.A., History, Minor in Finance, Dillard University 2002
summa cum laude
Regents Scholar
Awards
- Tonya’s practice has been highlighted by the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
Pro Bono
Tonya represents veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to obtain Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). She represented DLA Piper LLP (US)’s first successful veteran in his receipt of CRSC.
Tonya also advises non-profit organizations, including Head Start organizations, regarding corporate governance, formation procedures and filings, and tax implications of operating a non-profit organization.
Bylines
- "Eliminating the Secondary Earner Bias: Lessons from Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Ireland," Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy (Fall 2009)
- "Washington State and Minnesota Probate Law: Comparison and Contrast with Louisiana Succession Law," American Constitution Society for Law and Policy ResearchLink (2008)
Seminars
Prior Experience
Prior to entering the practice of law, Tonya, licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, worked for Entergy Corporation providing revenue and operational analysis for Entergy’s regulated subsidiaries and public utilities.
Additional Information
In 2018, Tonya completed a secondment at Guggenheim Life and Annuity Company providing legal transactional support and advice on structured finance and securitization transactions.
Memberships And Affiliations
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow (2023)
- Secured Finance Network, Midwest Chapter
- Women in Fund Finance
