Schedule
The 2025 Garrett 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.
Thursday, October 9, 2025
7:45 a.m. - Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45–9 a.m. - Welcome and Overview
Jodi Simala, Institute Chair, Mayer Brown LLP, Chicago
9–9:30 a.m. - State of the Markets*
Presenter
Kristen Rossi, Global Head of Consumer Retail Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley, Chicago
9:35–10:35 a.m. - The Impact of the Current Administration*
Session Chair
Daniel Davis, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Washington, DC
Panelists
Heather Russell, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, TransUnion LLC, Chicago
Edward Siskel, Latham & Watkins LLP, Washington, DC
Chelsi Tryon, Director of ESG, Toppan Merill, Phoenix
Additional panelist to be announced
10:35–11 a.m. - Break
11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. - Delaware Mock Argument - When M&A Goes Bad + A Conversation with Vice Chancellor Laster*
Presiding
Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster, Delaware Court of Chancery, Wilmington, DE
Commentator
Mike Allen, Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, DE
Litigators
Nicholas Mozal, Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, Wilmington, DE
Lakshmi Muthu, Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP, Wilmington, DE
12:15–1:35 p.m. - Lunch (Provided)
1:35–2:35 p.m. - Current Issues and Trends in M&A*
Session Chair
Jenna Levine, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, New York City
Panelists
Melissa Brown, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, AeroVironment, Los Angeles
William Rowe, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Chicago
Additional panelist to be announced
2:40–3:40 p.m. - Corporate Law Developments*
Session Chair
Kristen Seeger, Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago
Panelists
Christopher Barbcock, Foley & Lardner LLP, Dallas
A. Thompson Bayliss, Abrams & Bayliss LLP, Wilmington, DE
Amy Simmerman, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Wilmington, DE
3:40–4 p.m. - Break
4–5 p.m. - Shareholder Activism*
Session Chair
Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York City
Panelists
James Langston, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York City
Dave Rosewater, Global Head of Shareholder Activism and Corporate Defense, Morgan Stanley, New York City
Matthew Sherman, President, Joele Frank, New York City
5–6 p.m. - Reception
Sponsored by: FGS Global
*Session will be available on demand for 30 days following the live Institute
Friday, October 10, 2025
7:45 a.m. - Continental Breakfast
8:30–9:30 a.m. - SEC Rulemaking & Disclosure Developments
Session Co-Chairs
Era Anagnosti, DLA Piper LLP (US), Washington, DC
Julie Rizzo, K&L Gates LLP, Raleigh, NC
Panelists
Hagen Ganem, Vice President, Legal - Corporate and M&A, ServiceNow, Inc., Santa Clara, CA
Additional panelist to be announced
9:35–10:35 a.m. - Enforcement Trends and Priorities
Session Chair
Nader Salehi, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Washington, DC
Panelists
Ariella Guardi, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC, Chicago
Additional panelist to be announced
10:35–10:55 a.m. - Break
10:55–11:55 a.m. - Supreme Court Updates
Session Chair
Charlotte Taylor, Jones Day, Washington, DC
Panelists
Sarah Harrington, Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, DC
Paul Alessio Mezzina, King & Spalding LLP, Washington, DC
Additional panelist to be announced
11:55 a.m.–12:15 p.m. - Boxed Lunch Pickup
12:15–1 p.m. - Navigating Sudden CEO Transitions
Session Chair
Courtney Tygesson, Cooley LLP, Chicago
Panelists
Dorothy Capers, General Counsel, C.H. Robinson, Minneapolis
Tom Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, H/Advisors Abernathy, New York City
Christine Long, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Indianapolis
1:05–1:50 p.m. - Managing through Missing Guidance Situations
Session Chair
Eric Orsic, McDermott, Will & Emery LLP, Chicago
Panelists
Joey Graves, Managing Director and Chief Corporate Counsel, CME Group Inc., Chicago
Jonathan Spitzer, Vice President of Investor Relations, Adtalem Global Education, Chicago
Jennifer Zepralka, Mayer Brown, Washington, DC
1:50–2 p.m. - Break
2–3 p.m. - Attorney Well-Being/Mental Health
Session Chair
Dr. Diana Uchiyama, Executive Director, Illinois Lawyers' Assistance Program, Chicago
Panelists
To be announced