Whytne Brooks

Whytne Brooks is a Vice President in New York Life’s Office of Governmental Affairs (OGA). As a member of the federal advocacy team, Whytne is responsible for advancing the financial, reputational, and operational interests of New York Life, its agents, and its policyowners before Congress and the Administration on legal, privacy, underwriting, diversity & inclusion and other public policy issues. She collaborates with New York Life executives to determine the company’s policy position and priorities, and establishes relationships with members of Congress and their staff across political parties in order to build our brand and establish New York Life as a thought leader.

Whytne joined New York Life in 2015 as Assistant General Counsel on the Litigation team in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), and was promoted to Associate General Counsel in 2018. She took on her role in OGA in May 2019 and was promoted to Vice President in September 2020.

She previously served as a member of New York Life’s EMC-appointed Social Justice Working Group and Co-Chair of the Black Employee Resource Group.

Prior to joining New York Life, Whytne worked as a Litigation Associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where she represented Fortune 100 companies in a variety of commercial litigation matters, including mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy, securities and False Claims Act litigation for U.S. and international clients. She is a recipient of the firm's Pro Bono Recognition Award, Legal Services NYC’s Pro Bono Recognition Award, and Her Justice’s Commitment to Justice Award.

Whytne is a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Board of Directors. She previously served as Chair of the NYC Bar Association’s Committee on Minorities in the Profession, and Co-Chair of Legal Services NYC’s Pro Bono Associate Advisory Board.

Whytne earned a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She is an avid runner and Formula 1 racing fan.