Schedule
The 2026 Corporate Counsel Institute is a two-day, in-person conference hosted by Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. All sessions are in Central Daylight Time. Session times and speakers are subject to change.
Monday, June 8, 2026
7:45–8:45 a.m. - Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45–9 a.m. - Welcome and Overview
Zachary Clopton, Dean, Daniel Hale Williams Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Christopher Athas, Institute Chair, Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, Amsted Industries, Chicago
9–10 a.m. - The Evolving Boardroom: Understanding New Corporate Governance Standards and SEC Disclosure Rules
- How to operationalize SEC mandates
- Guiding the Board in thinking about disclosure requirements
- Board risk oversight
- Succession planning and Board refreshment
- Factors impacting incorporation/reincorporation decisions
Session Chair
Tanya Jaeger de Foras, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer, Ingredion Incorporated, Westchester, IL
Panelists
Anika Hermann Bargfrede, Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago
Christopher Dekker, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL
Lisa Young, Chief Legal Officer, Snap Finance, Salt Lake City
10–10:10 a.m. - Break
10:10–11:10 a.m. - M&A: Navigating Deals in Public and Private Companies
- Major antitrust considerations
- Key factors in the current regulatory and legal landscape
- Use and governance of AI in data due diligence
- Involvement of the C-Suite and sponsors in legal diligence and documentation
Session Chair
Tushin Shah, General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer, Wrigley Management, Inc., Chicago
Panelists
Matthew Colman, Global Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, Berlin Packaging, Chicago
Bradley Reed, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago
Kristy Waterman, Institute Vice Chair, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Human Resources Officer, TreeHouse Foods, Inc., Oak Brook, IL
11:10–11:25 a.m. - Break
11:25 a.m.–12:25 p.m. - Litigation Management: Aligning Strategy and Operations
- Best practices for selecting, managing, and evaluating outside counsel
- Integrating enterprise risk appetite, reputational considerations, and commercial priorities into litigation decision making
- Moving from reactive cost management to forward‑looking budget discipline
- Developing playbooks, escalation models, and resolution strategies that promote consistency, speed, and informed decision making
Session Chair
Andrew Oppenheimer, Senior Vice President and General Counsel North America, Ferrero, Chicago
Panelists
Hal Merck, Associate General Counsel and Vice President of Global Litigation, McDonald’s Corporation, Chicago
Jeanah Park, Vedder, Chicago
Caroline Teichner, Associate General Counsel, Litigation & Legal Operations, The Kraft Heinz Company, Chicago
12:25–1:40 p.m. - Lunch (provided)
12:35–1:30 p.m. - Sponsored Lunch & Learn Sessions (By Invitation Only)
Session A: Trade Fraud Risk Playbook: Navigating Escalating Enforcement, Tariffs, and Country-of-Origin Exposure
Sponsored by Hilco Global
With hundreds of billions of dollars of trade fraud occurring each year, enforcement and coordination are entering a new phase under the leadership of the new Trade Fraud Task Force as well as the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office. Cheating on customs documents are now being recast as potential violations of the False Claims Act and, in more serious cases, criminal statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 545. The unique power of Section 545 is that it allows criminal prosecutors to target and prosecute downstream actors in the supply chain, including industrial and commercial end-users. This session offers practical insights for better understanding, mitigating, and responding to that litigation and enforcement risk.
Panelists
The Honorable Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago
Jay Schleppenbach, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, Chicago
Kristofer Swanson, Executive Director - Global Investigations & Dispute Resolution, Hilco Global, Chicago
Session B: Market Overview and Trends in M&A
Sponsored by Houlihan Lokey
Join Houlihan Lokey for an intimate, discussion style overview of current issues in the M&A and capital markets followed by open networking with fellow attendees to deepen relationships.
Panelists
Michael Bett, Director, Houlihan Lokey, Chicago
Adam Ishola, Vice President, Houlihan Lokey, Chicago
1:40–2:40 p.m. - Case Study: NIL and the Obstacle Course of Legal Issues
- Overview of the House v. NCAA settlement and resulting paradigm
- Practical implications for athletes, universities, and businesses
- Convergence and interplay of IP, contract, antitrust, and employment law
- Impacts of executive, congressional, and legislative initiatives
Session Chair
Anil Gollahalli, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Big Ten Conference, Rosemont, IL
Panelists
David Greenspan, Winston & Strawn LLP, New York City
Casey Schwab, President & Founding Partner, Pathway Sports & Entertainment, Madison, WI
Josh Whitman, Director of Athletics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
2:40–2:50 p.m. - Break
2:50–3:50 p.m. - Who is the Client? Loyalty, Conflicts, and the Duty to the Entity
- Understanding the conflict-of-interest risks inherent in representing companies alongside their officers, directors, and shareholders (Model Rules 1.7-1.10 and 1.13)
- Analyzing real-world corporate scenarios to better identify potential ethical pitfalls
- Learning practical strategies for evaluating consent ability and managing conflicts before they escalate
Session Chair
Wendy Muchman, Professor of Practice, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Panelists
Diane Klotnia, Miller Shakman Levine & Feldman LLP, Chicago
Bernardo Lopez, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C., Chicago
Douglas Richmond, Senior Vice President, Lockton Companies, Olathe, KS
3:50–4 p.m. - Break
4–5 p.m. - The Changing Workplace: Essential Labor & Employment Updates for In-House Compliance
- Regulating AI in hiring and people management
- Addressing the current administration's policies and positions affecting the workforce
- Administrative demands and state court legislation related to the Equal Pay Act
- General employment law updates, including updates to non-competes and restrictive covenant strategy, classification (and reclassification) of non-exempt employees and independent contractors, and evolving NLRB rulings and their impact on union and non-union environments
Session Chair
Kara Harchuck, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Hunt Companies, Inc., Chicago
Panelists
Sara Davey, Perkins Coie LLP, Chicago
Brandon Dixon, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago
Alexis Dominguez, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, Chicago
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
8–8:45 a.m. - Sponsored Roundtable (By Invitation Only)
The Next Frontier: Cyber Risks Spike During M&A Transactions
Sponsored by FTI Consulting
M&A transactions are among the highest-profile and most complex events companies face, drawing scrutiny from investors, employees, competitors, and regulators. Cybersecurity risk has added to this complexity by increasing business and reputational risks that can jeopardize operations and deal integration. Join FTI for an interactive session that will present actionable communications and reputation management strategies to bridge the disconnect between legal, cybersecurity and corporate development teams and help to manage exposure and mitigate cyber risks while closing transactions.
Moderator
Dan Scorpio, Senior Managing Director, M&A and Activism, FTI Consulting, Chicago
Panelists
Matthew Darch, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago
Matt Saidel, Managing Director, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, FTI Consulting, Chicago
Sunil Shenoi, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago
8:15 a.m. - Continental Breakfast
9–10 a.m. - Protect the Corporation: Strategies for Navigating Regulatory Changes and a Dynamic Political Environment
- Addressing hot button issues with a diverse employee base
- Impact of executive orders on the corporate environment and legal team
- Analyzing the legal risk and opportunity created by regulatory change
- Guiding the Board and senior management through regulatory and geopolitical changes
Session Chair
Jason DeSanto, Distinguished Senior Lecturer, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Panelists
Megan Garcia, Vice President, Government Affairs, Conagra Brands, Inc., Washington, DC
Bryan Locke, Partner, FGS Global Inc., Chicago
Edward Siskel, Latham & Watkins LLP, Chicago
Matthew Zabel, Chief Executive Officer, Mile 27 Partners, Minneapolis
10–10:10 a.m. - Break
10:10–11:10 a.m. - C-Suite Success: Creating Healthy Relationships Between the GC, CFO, and HR
- Practical tips for building trust and collaborating effectively across departments and functions
- Navigating the tension between legal caution and the moves needed to drive growth
- Effectively managing escalation and the relationship with the CEO and Board between the three roles
- Understanding the role each function plays in contributing to a culture of compliance
Session Chair
Uma Amuluru, Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President, Human Resources, The Boeing Company, Chicago
Panelists
Carly Anderson, General Counsel and Chief Legal, Strategy, and Human Resources Officer, Jet Support Services, Inc., Chicago
Nancy Berardinelli-Krantz, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, W.W. Grainger, Inc., Lake Forest, IL
Tim Elberfeld, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Jet Support Services, Inc., Chicago
Melanie Tinto, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, W.W. Grainger, Inc., Lake Forest, IL
11:10–11:25 a.m. - Break
11:25 a.m.–12:25 p.m. - The Supreme Court Effect: Advising the Board on the Shifting Constitutional Terrain
This session will examine key Supreme Court cases from the most recent term. Issues discussed will include:
- The status of independent agencies and how regulated companies' interaction with the agencies may change
- The tariff battle under IEEPA and its aftermath
- The scope of federal agency remedies
- Companies' obligations in designing certain technology
Session Chair
Jonathan Marcus, Senior Managing Director and General Counsel, CME Group, Washington, DC
Panelists
Ian Gershengorn, Jenner & Block LLP, Washington, DC
Nicole Saharsky, Mayer Brown, Washington, DC
James Speta, Elizabeth Froehling Horner Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
12:25–12:50 p.m. - Boxed Lunch Break
12:50–1:50 p.m. - The Future GC: Cultivating Business Acumen and Leadership in Legal Teams
- Showing up as a leader and a lawyer
- Strategies for cultivating followership and influence
- Nuances and implicit expectations of the role
Session Chair
Noelle Perkins, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Cushman & Wakefield, Chicago
Panelists
Angelique David, Executive Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, B.C. Ziegler and Company, Chicago
Margaret Egan, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Chicago
Gayle Littleton, Member of the Board of Advisors, Atomic Canyon, Palo Alto, CA
Aimee Nolan, Chief Legal Officer, Anacostia Rail Holdings, Chicago
1:50–2 p.m. - Break
2–3 p.m. - AI: Cross-Functional Governance and Legal Ops Best Practices
- Defining essential roles and responsibilities from key departments
- Implementing practical technical controls
- Mitigating IP, bias, and disclosure risks posed by AI
- Using metrics to measure success and productivity to understand the ROI of legal tech integration
Session Chair
Stephen Reynolds, McDermott Will & Schulte, Chicago
Panelists
Donna Haddad, Former Vice President and Associate General Counsel, IBM; Executive in Residence, Governance, Risk and Emerging Technology, Energy Innovation Lab, Northwestern University, Chicago
Margaret Hermes Neiman, Chief Administrative & Operating Officer, Avant, LLC, Chicago