Schedule
The 2025 Corporate Counsel Institute is a two-day, in-person conference hosted by Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. All sessions are in Central Daylight Time. Additional session details coming soon. Session times and speakers are subject to change.
Monday, June 2, 2025
7:45 a.m. - Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45–9 a.m. - Welcome and Overview*
Hari Osofsky, Dean and Myra and James Bradwell Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of
Law, Chicago
Cristen Kogl, Institute Chair, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Zebra Technologies
9–10 a.m. - Steady On: Strengthening the Board-GC Relationship and Maintaining Effective Board Governance through Times of Change*
Moderator
Rick Kulevich, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, CDW, Vernon Hills, IL
Panelists
Carey Bartell, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago
Hugo Dubovoy, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Regal Rexnord Corporation, Rosemont, IL
Richard Lenny, Non-Executive Chairman, Conagra Brands, Inc., Naples, FL
Frank Modruson, Board Member of Zebra Technologies Corporation, Chicago
10:05–11:05 a.m. - The Many Hats of the In-House Lawyer*
Moderator
Noelle Perkins, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Cushman & Wakefield, Chicago
Panelists
Victoria Donati, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Crate & Barrel Holdings, Inc., Northbrook, IL
Nicholas Giampietro, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, Reyes Holdings, LLC, Rosemont, IL
Mel Williams, Former Chief Legal Officer, Chicago Trading Company, Chicago
11:05–11:15 a.m. - Break
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. - BREAKOUT SESSIONS
M&A Issues for Private Companies
Moderator
Matthew Richards, Ropes & Gray LLP, Chicago
Panelists
Carly Anderson, Chief Legal Officer, JSSI, Chicago
Christopher Athas, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Amsted Industries, Chicago
M&A Issues for Public Companies
Moderator
Nick Chulos, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Old National Bancorp, Chicago
Panelists
James Barresi, Squire Patton Boggs, Cincinnati
Mark Menting, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York City
Terry Treemarcki, Director, Houlihan Lokey, Chicago
12:15–1:25 p.m. - Lunch (provided)
1:25–2:25 p.m. - Supreme Court: Recent Rulings and Implications for In-House Counsel*
Moderator
Jonathan Marcus, Senior Managing Director and General Counsel, CME Group Inc., Chicago
Panelists
Gary Feinerman, Latham & Watkins LLP, Chicago
Elaine Goldenberg, Munger Tolles & Olson LLP, Washington, DC
Annie Kastanek, Jenner & Block LLP, Chicago
James Speta, Elizabeth Froehling Horner Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
2:30–3:30 p.m. - Regulatory State 2025: A Year of Upheaval*
Moderator
Anil Gollahalli, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Big Ten Conference, Rosemont, IL
Panelists
Jesse Panuccio, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, Washington, DC
Kwame Raoul, Attorney General for the State of Illinois, Chicago
Additional panelist to be announced
3:30–4 p.m. - Networking Break
4–5 p.m. - Employment Law: Court Rulings, Policy Changes, and Recent Trends*
Moderator
Mary Cate Gordon, Vice President, Labor & Employment, Exelon Corporation, Chicago
Panelists
Donald English Jr., Jackson Lewis P.C., Baltimore
John Ring, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Washington, DC
Ami Wynne, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Chicago
5:05–6:05 p.m. - Ethical Issues for In-House Attorneys*
Presenter
James Billings-Kang, Cozen O’Connor, Washington, DC
Session will be submitted for Illinois Professional Responsibility (Legal Ethics) Credit, and for similar credit in other states as applicable.
*Session will be available on demand for 30 days following the live Institute
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
8:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast
9:15–10:15 a.m. - Well-Being & Mental Health for Attorneys
Presenter
Christy Mihina, Founder, Verge Coaching & Consulting, Buffalo Grove, IL
Session will be submitted for Illinois Professional Responsibility (Mental Health and Substance Abuse) Credit, and for similar credit in other states as applicable.
10:20–11:20 a.m. - AI & The In-House Legal Department
Moderator
Christina Roupas, Cooley LLP, Chicago
Panelists
Aaron Gin, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP, Chicago
Jonathan Yellin, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Charles River Associates, Boston
Additional panelist to be announced
11:20–11:35 a.m. - Break
11:35 a.m.–12:35 p.m. - BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Public Companies vs. Private Companies
Current Trends & Best Practices for Private Company Lawyers
Moderator
Robert Hayward, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago
Panelists
Barbara Grayson, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Chicago
Additional panelist to be announced
Shareholder Activism for Public Company Lawyers
Moderator
Beth Berg, Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago
Panelists
Cristiano Guerra, Strategic Governance Advisors, Washington, DC
Alfredo Porretti, Managing Director and Head of Shareholder Engagement and M&A Capital Markets for North America, J.P. Morgan, New York City
Dan Scorpio, Managing Director, Head of M&A and Activism, H/Advisors Abernathy, Chicago
12:35–12:55 p.m. - Boxed Lunch Break
12:55–1:55 p.m. - Compliance, ERM, and IRM: Risk Management Trends in 2025
Moderator
Nicholas Eichenseer, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Ethics and Compliance, W.W. Grainger, Inc., Chicago
Panelists
Marisa Darden, Benesch, Cleveland
Marsha McClellan, Associate General Counsel, BMO Financial Group, Chicago
Mariana Menin, Senior Manager, Compliance, Eaton Corporation, Beachwood, OH
2–3 p.m. - Managing Geopolitical Issues
Moderator
Kristy Waterman, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, TreeHouse Foods, Inc., Oak Brook, IL
Panelists
Kerry Contini, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Washington, DC
Tanya Jaeger de Foras, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer, Ingredion, Westchester, IL
Alexander Kazan, Partner and Geopolitical Co-Lead, Brunswick Group, New York City
Alan Tse, Global Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., Chicago