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. Additionally, participants who meet the attendance requirements will receive a completion certificate at the end of the program.

  • 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
    • 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 & Synchronous (sessions will NOT be recorded for future viewing)

    Optional In-Person Events:

    • October 30, Fordham Law School, New York City
    • December 12, DLA Piper, New York City (12 p.m. - 2 p.m. New York time)

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

    • 3M
    • AB InBev (Anheuser-Busch)
    • América Móvil
    • Amplify
    • Banco Santander CIB
    • The Bank of England
    • Boehringer Ingelheim
    • Con Edison
    • Crédit Agricole CIB
    • Ericsson
    • Equitable Holdings Inc.
    • FIFA
    • Grupo Globo
    • Google
    • Hunter Douglas
    • ICBC Standard Bank Group
    • Intesa Sanpaolo Bank
    • Interpublic Group
    • ITOCHU International Inc.
    • KPMG México
    • McKinsey & Company
    • Microsoft
    • Molina Healthcare, Inc.
    • MUFG
    • Nestle
    • The New Yorker
    • Paine Schwartz Partners
    • Pentalog Group
    • PepsiCo Latin America
    • Pfizer
    • Prosus
    • RELX
    • Sanpaolo Bank
    • Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda.
    • Sumitomo Pharma America
    • TED Conferences
    • Toshiba Railway Europe
    • TP - Link
    • UBS
    • Unisys
    • 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 Fee/Payment

Individual Registration (after May 30): $1,750

Firms/organizations interested in sending five or more participants should contact [email protected] to inquire about preferential pricing.

Pay for the program using a credit card

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:

    Laurie Basch, Associate General Counsel, McKinsey & Company

    Yoram Elkaim, Head of Legal, International, Google

    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

    Tara Soni, Chief Legal Officer, Sumitomo Pharma America

    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

    Marun Jazbik Filho, Vice President & Corporate Counsel, ITOCHU International Inc.

    Renata Malavazzi, General , Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Paine Schwartz Partners

    Manish Patel, Deputy Global Head, Legal Operations and Strategy, Unisys

  • 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:

    Inna Barmash, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Amplify

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

    Nishat Ruiter, General Counsel, TED Conferences

    Andreia Saad, Legal Director & Data Protection Officer, Globo

     

  • 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:

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

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

    Nicole Karlebach, Sustainability General Counsel, Mars Wrigley

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

    *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:

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

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

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

    Suzette Recinos, SVP and General Counsel, PepsiCo Latin America

    Mariana Seixas, Director and Senior Counselor, SoftBank

  • Fordham University School of Law

    150 W 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023

    Room 7-119 (7th floor)

    6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

  • 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:

    David Ernst, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, 3M

    John Frantz, Partner, DLA Piper

    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

    Anne-Claire Hoyng, Global Head Competition Policy, Prosus

    Marc Nichols, Partner & Co-Chair, Transportation Practice, DLA Piper

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

    Renata Vasconcellos, Head of Latin America Government Affairs, RELX

  • 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:

    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)

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

    Nishat Ruiter, General Counsel, TED Conferences

  • 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

    Emilio Garcia Silvero, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, FIFA

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

    Greg Harris, Managing Associate GC for Compliance, Verizon

    Edward J. Nowicki, Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, Pfizer

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

  • No Session – U.S. Thanksgiving

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

    Featuring: 

    Sonya Branch, General Counsel, Legal Directorate, Bank of England

  • 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

    DLA Piper New York Office

    1251 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020