In-House Counsel Institute

Pathways to Excellence: Leadership for In-House Counsel

Fordham Law School and DLA Piper

Are you a relatively new in-house attorney seeking insights on how to navigate the challenges of in-house practice? Are you an experienced in-house attorney looking to advance your role as a business partner? Are you currently in private practice looking to transition into an in-house role?

Fordham Law School and DLA Piper are developing a program that will provide you with the tools to be a strategic and impactful leader in your organization. It will enable you to serve your company with distinction through legal leadership, innovative problem-solving, and strategic vision. 

We have convened a prestigious board of advisors who serve or have served as high-level in-house counsel of major organizations to steer us in building this program and developing a panel of outstanding speakers with vast in-house experience.

There will be numerous opportunities to meet online and in-person to network and discuss issues related to the work of in-house counsel.

  • Toni M. Jaeger-Fine, Senior Counselor and Adjunct Professor of Law, Fordham University

    Amadeu Ribeiro, Partner, DLA Piper; Fordham Law LLM Alumni, 2017

    • Ramzi Aboutaam, Vice President and Chief Counsel, International Commercial Division, Pfizer
    • Peter Alfano, Partner, DLA Piper
    • Andrew Bonzani, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Interpublic Group
    • Alessandra Del Debbio, Vice President of Legal and Corporate Matters for Latin America, Microsoft
    • John Frantz, Partner, DLA Piper; former General Counsel, Verizon Business
    • Lisa LeCointe-Cephas, Partner, DLA Piper; former Senior Vice President and Global Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Merck
    • Barbara Levi, Group General Counsel and Member of the Group Executive Board, UBS
    • Augusto C. Lima, Deputy General Counsel, Molina Healthcare, Inc.
    • Nishat Ruiter, General Counsel, TED Conferences
    • Allen Waxman, Of Counsel, DLA Piper; former President and Chief Executive Officer, CPR; former General Counsel, Pfizer

  • Fridays, September 5 – December 5, 2025 (except November 28)

    12:00 - 1:00 PM (New York time)

    **Please note, the opening session on September 5th is an exception, and will be held from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (New York time)**

    Online Via Zoom

    Optional In-Person Events:

    • October 30, Fordham Law School, New York City
    • December Date TBA, DLA Piper, New York City

  •  All speakers appear in their personal capacities. Speakers hold or have held high-level legal positions at the following companies:

    • AB InBev
    • América Móvil
    • Banco Santander CIB
    • Boehringer Ingelheim
    • Con Edison
    • Crédit Agricole CIB
    • Ericsson
    • Equitable Holdings Inc.
    • Google
    • ICBC Standard Bank Group
    • Intesa Sanpaolo
    • IPG
    • KPMG México
    • McKinsey & Company
    • Microsoft
    • Molina Healthcare, Inc.
    • MUFG
    • Nestle
    • The New Yorker
    • Pentalog Group
    • PepsiCo Latin America
    • Pfizer
    • Sanpaolo Bank
    • Shell
    • TED Conferences
    • Toshiba Railway Europe
    • UBS
    • Verizon Business
    • Warner Music Group

  • CLE credit is approved for the 2025 program in accordance with the requirements of the New York State and New Jersey State CLE Boards for a maximum of 12 credits.

    New York credits are non-transitional (experienced) in the following areas (subject to change):

    • 8.0 Professional Practice credits
    • 1.0 Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection General credits
    • 1.0 Law Practice Management credit
    • 2.0 Ethics credits.

    New Jersey credits are in the following areas (subject to change):

    • 9.0 Professional Practice credits
    • 1.0 client management specific credit
    • 2.0 Ethics credits.

    Attendees seeking credit in another state must apply to their states' CLE Board for credit.

Register Here

Program Schedule

Please see below for the tentative 2025 schedule. We will continue to update as speakers are confirmed. All topics and speakers are subject to change.

  • Barbara Levi, Group General Counsel and Member of the Group Executive Board, UBS (Fordham Law LL.M. '01)

    *Optional Online Networking Session: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (New York time)*

  • Learn how to position yourself as a strategic partner by understanding key stakeholders, setting a vision, and managing legal budgets effectively. Develop leadership skills that enhance influence, inspire teams, and align legal strategy with business goals.

    Featuring:

    Andrew Bonzani, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Interpublic Group

    Deneen Donnley, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Con Edison (Fordham Law J.D. '92)

    José Ramón González, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Equitable Holdings, Inc.

    Paul M. Robinson, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Warner Music Group (Fordham Law J.D. '83)

  • Explore strategies for building and leading a high-performing legal team. Learn how to foster collaboration, promote mentorship, and create an inclusive culture that drives results.

    Featuring:

    John Frantz, Partner, DLA Piper

    Timo Matthias Spitzer, Executive Director and Head of Legal for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Nordic Countries, Banco Santander CIB

  • Master the art of balancing legal priorities with business needs. Understand legal department structures, stakeholder dynamics, and data-driven decision-making to enhance efficiency and adaptability.

    Featuring:

    Pedro Mariani, General Counsel, Hunter Douglas

    Sheea Sybblis, Vice President - Human Pharma Business Law, Boehringer Ingelheim (Fordham Law J.D. '05)

    Allen Waxman, Of Counsel, DLA Piper

  • Discover how to effectively engage and oversee external counsel, from selecting the right firms to managing costs and ensuring alignment with business strategy.

    Featuring:

    John Burke, Global Head of Outside Counsel Management, UBS AG

    Gabriel Costa, Chairman of ICC Brazil Arbitration & ADR Commission; Associate General Counsel, Global Litigation, Shell

  • Explore the role of AI in legal practice, from contract analysis to compliance monitoring. Learn how to leverage technology while balancing ethical considerations and business objectives.

    Featuring:

    Alessandra Del Debbio, Legal and Corporate Vice President, Latin America, Microsoft

    Nishat Ruiter, General Counsel, TED Conferences

  • Gain insight into corporate governance, board advisement, and ESG compliance. Learn how to integrate sustainability, ethical practices, and regulatory adherence into corporate decision-making.

    Featuring:

    Alec Cohen, Managing Director - Head of Europe, Crédit Agricole CIB (Fordham Law J.D. '97)

    Nathaniel R. Torres, General Counsel, Dominican Bar Association; VP, Corporate Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary, MUFG

    Alejandro Cantú Jiménez, General Counsel and Chief Regulatory Officer, América Móvil

    *Optional Online Networking Session: 1:00 - 2:00 PM (New York time)*

  • Strengthen your deal-making skills by mastering due diligence, contract negotiation, and risk assessment. Learn best practices for closing transactions efficiently while mitigating legal exposure.

    Featuring:

    Augusto C. Lima, Deputy General Counsel, Molina Healthcare, Inc.

    Elizabeth Hincapié, General Counsel, Company Secretary, and Compliance Officer, Toshiba Railway Europe

    Margot Miller, Global VP, Legal & Corporate Affairs, AB InBev

    Suzette Recinos, SVP and General Counsel, PepsiCo Latin America

  • Fordham University School of Law

    150 W 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023

    Details Forthcoming

  • Understand the in-house counsel’s role in litigation management, from risk assessment and discovery to media relations and settlement negotiations. Learn how to optimize external counsel relationships and control costs.

    Featuring:

    Matthew Matule, Global Head of Litigation / Controversies, Ericsson

    Patrick Shilling, General Counsel Americas, UBS (Fordham Law J.D. '02)

  • Navigate the intersection of law, policy, and corporate advocacy. Learn how to assess regulatory impact, collaborate with government affairs teams, and align corporate policy with legal compliance.

    Featuring:

    Fabio Bertoni, General Counsel, The New Yorker

    Montserrat Bonilla Garro, Head Legal & Corporate Security, Walmart - Central America

    Francesco Planchenstainer, Global Head of Food Law, Nestle (Fordham Law, LL.M. '23)

  • Stay ahead of evolving data privacy and cybersecurity threats. Learn how to build compliance programs, respond to breaches, and integrate security measures into corporate strategy.

    Featuring:

    Sabeena Ahmed Liconte, Head of Legal & Chief Compliance Officer, ICBC Standard Bank Group

    Paolo Amoroso, Managing Director & Head of Legal, Intesa Sanpaolo (Fordham Law LL.M. '08)

    Steeve Jimbuem-Yao, Head of Legal & Group Legal Manager, Pentalog (Fordham Law LL.M. '13)

  • Master the fundamentals of legal risk mitigation, crisis response, and internal investigations. Learn how to proactively address compliance challenges and navigate global regulations.

    Featuring:

    Sarah Flanagan, Global Head of Compliance and Privacy, TP-Link

    Denise Guillén Lara, Partner OGC (Office General Counsel) México & Centroamérica, KPMG México 

    Nishat Ruiter, General Counsel, TED Conferences

    *Optional Online Networking Session 1:00 - 2:00 PM (New York time)*

  • No Session – U.S. Thanksgiving

  • Hear directly from corporate directors on how in-house counsel can add value. Learn how to communicate effectively with the board, manage shareholder expectations, and provide strategic legal guidance.

    Featuring: 

    Speakers TBA

  • Details forthcoming

    DLA Piper New York Office

    1251 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020