Women in Law & Leadership Summit: NY
Power, Presence & Performance in the World’s Most Demanding Market
In New York State, leadership is forged in real time. Decisions move markets, reputations are built or broken at speed, and influence is measured not only by authority, but by credibility, execution, and visibility. In this environment, women leaders are navigating relentless pressure while redefining what power, performance, and principled leadership look like at the highest levels.
The Women in Law & Leadership Summit: NY convenes senior legal leaders, in-house counsel, financial services executives, and institutional decision-makers for a candid, high-level examination of leadership in a results-driven, high-exposure market. The program explores the realities of leading in environments defined by commercial intensity, reputational risk, and constant scrutiny – from asserting authority in competitive cultures to managing risk, leading through disruption, and sustaining influence over the long term.
Attendees will gain actionable frameworks for leadership at scale, including visibility and voice, executive presence, resilience under pressure, and the unwritten dynamics of power in complex organizations. This summit is designed for women shaping outcomes, setting standards, and leading at the intersection of law, business, and reputation in one of the most demanding leadership arenas in the world.
*5 CLE Credits NY State
We’re also proud to welcome Legal Momentum as a partner of the Women in Law & Leadership Summit series.
- Leading Through Disruption: Redefining Power, Purpose & Progress
- From Token to Trailblazer: Building Enduring Power for Women in Leadership
- Micro-Bias, Macro Impact: Rewriting the Culture of Leadership
- Who Opens the Door? Building Sponsorship Pathways That Last
- The Power of the Pivot: Reinvention and Resilience in Women’s Leadership
- Voice, Visibility & Influence: The New Metrics of Leadership Success
- The Currency of Advancement: Credit, Visibility and Compensation
- Law, Leadership & Legitimacy: The Ethics Tightrope for Today’s Women Leaders
Chief Legal Officers and General Counsel • Deputy, Associate and Assistant General Counsel • Senior Legal Counsel and Corporate Counsel • C-Suite Executives • Vice Presidents of Legal • Chief Compliance Officers • Chief Operating Officers • Legal Operations Leaders • Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officers and Heads of Inclusion & Belonging
Speakers
Monica K. Loseman is a co-chair of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Securities Litigation Practice Group. Monica focuses her practice in corporate and securities litigation, investment advisor and fund litigation and investigations, financial reporting, accounting and related investigations, and accountant defense. She is a first chair trial lawyer, with trials in the Delaware Court of Chancery, bench and jury trials across the country, private arbitrations, and several trials before SEC administrative law judges.
Avery Pollard is Counsel at Verizon in Washington, D.C., where she manages litigation matters and government investigations. Previously, she was a litigation associate at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, focusing on white-collar criminal defense, securities litigation, and government investigations on behalf of businesses and senior executives. Her notable representations include negotiating a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ on behalf of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and securing the SEC’s dismissal of fraud charges against a public company executive. Before law school, Ms. Pollard worked as a legal and political correspondent for Courthouse News Service and as an environmental and business reporter for Bloomberg BNA. She clerked for the Honorable Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.
Margaret Munnelly is General Counsel at ProducePay, where she leads the company’s legal function and serves as a strategic advisor on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, transactional matters, and risk mitigation in support of the company’s mission to modernize the fresh produce supply chain. In this role, she partners with executives and cross-functional teams to align legal strategy with business priorities and sustainable growth objectives.
Munnelly is a highly experienced legal executive with more than 25 years of experience in general counsel and strategic advisory roles, encompassing executive leadership, M&A and due diligence, human capital strategy, and enterprise risk management. Her background reflects a blend of legal acumen and business-oriented leadership in dynamic commercial environments.
Based in Houston, Texas, she is recognized for her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes while enabling operational agility and strong corporate governance frameworks.
Jennifer Kennedy Park’s practice focuses on white-collar defense, enforcement actions, crisis management, and complex disputes.
She has handled some of the most complicated matters affecting corporate entities in the past few years, including representing companies in litigation and investigations related to the Volkswagen emissions matters, the benchmark rates antitrust cases, and financial crises litigation.
Jennifer advises global corporations and financial institutions on interactions with regulators and authorities, including regularly interacting with DOJ, FRB, OCC, CFTC, SEC, DFS, FINRA, OFAC, state attorney generals, European Commission, UK FCA, SFO, and other authorities around the world. Given her experience, she is also knowledgeable about issues of privacy and confidentiality, cross border conflicts of law, and complex matter management.
Jennifer joined the firm in 2003 and became a partner in 2012.
Sarita is VP & Associate General Counsel at MetLife, where she advises on complex strategic, corporate and regulatory matters for a leading global financial services company.
Earlier this year, she assumed a new leadership role supporting high-impact enterprise transactions. She also continues to lead legal technology efforts to modernize operations and support scalable growth.
In her prior role, Sarita led the U.S. Regulatory team, overseeing government investigations, examinations, and inquiries nationwide, and advising on emerging regulatory frameworks, including those related to artificial intelligence. She also led a team supporting multiple product divisions, providing business-focused counsel from product design and development through distribution and ongoing servicing.
Sarita is committed to advancing the next generation of legal talent through mentoring and professional development initiatives, both within and beyond MetLife. She is a 2019 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.
Evette Stair is Senior Counsel, Consumer Solutions/Network and Digital Payment Services at Mastercard, where she advises on intellectual property, technology transactions, commercial contracts, product counseling, and business-focused legal strategy.
A technology-focused attorney and legal leader, Evette brings experience supporting complex commercial initiatives, digital products, and strategic business objectives across highly regulated and innovation-driven environments. Her background includes work in intellectual property, technology transfers, marketing, brand protection, and commercial legal support for corporate clients and in-house teams.
Evette earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and her M.B.A. from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. She previously served as a Technology Associate at Venable LLP and has held senior in-house legal roles, including Deputy General Counsel at Schrödinger.
Michele Paoli is Assistant General Counsel & Director, US Corporate Secretary at National Grid, where she advises on legal, governance, and corporate secretary matters for a major energy company.
With more than two decades of experience in litigation, employment, and labor law, Michele brings a practical and strategic perspective to legal leadership, risk management, workplace issues, and organizational governance. Her background includes advising complex organizations through legal and operational challenges while supporting sound decision-making at the enterprise level.
Michele is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Her legal education is listed as Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
Ariadne Clinton is a partner at Spencer West US LLP who specializes in securities, fund, M&A and fintech regulatory counsel, advising investment advisers, private fund sponsors and financial technology companies on U.S. regulatory and transactional matters. With over twenty years of experience, including as senior attorney in the SEC’s enforcement division and having held a position at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Ari’s practice sits at the intersection of financial institutions, regulation and market activity.
In addition to her fund and regulatory practice, Ari advises emerging companies and founders on corporate structuring, financings and strategic transactions. She has particular experience advising fintech and digital asset clients on product structuring, regulatory perimeter analysis and compliance frameworks, including digital payment solutions and tokenized asset structures.
Galit Kierkut is a seasoned litigator and advisor with over 30 year of experience representing national and international clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device, financial services, hospitality, real estate, technology, food services, packaged goods and health care industries, among others. She also takes on the role of outside general counsel for many of her start-up and growth-stage clients, assembling and leading teams of professionals to seamlessly address her clients’ legal needs.
Galit is also a key member of Greenberg Traurig’s Israel Practice, providing employment counsel to Israeli start up and growth stage clients in their U.S. operations.
Galit practices in the areas of trade secret and non-compete counseling and litigation, employment law, and complex commercial litigation. She is a skilled litigator who is never afraid to champion her client’s rights but also works to reach non-litigation solutions when possible. She trains and counsels employers in all employment compliance areas, including protecting trade secrets and confidential information, reasonable accommodations, and anti-harassment and is a frequent writer and speaker on these topics.
Galit has been honored by numerous organizations for her leadership and advocacy for women in the law and has received an award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law in conjunction with the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Galit is a past President of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and serves as the chair of the Trial Practices Committee of the Executive Committee of the Employment Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Galit is active in the greater New Jersey community, serving on the Boards of NJ LEEP and the NJ Ballet.
Josephine Belli is VP Legal and Compliance at Premier Brands of America where she advises on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters.
A senior legal and compliance executive, Josephine brings deep experience counseling businesses operating in highly regulated environments, with a focus on FDA and FTC regulatory issues, commercialization strategy, product and marketing compliance, business counseling, and risk management. Her background includes advising on consumer products, personal care, healthcare, life sciences, advertising, international business, and corporate matters.
Josephine is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and is admitted to practice in New York.
Kim Jessum is Chief IP Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Secretary at Heraeus Incorporated in Yardley, Pennsylvania and VP, Legal at Heraeus Medevio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Heraeus is a Fortune Global 500 portfolio company specializing in precious metals, materials, sensors, biomaterials, and medical products, as well as quartz glass and specialty light sources. Kim is responsible for providing intellectual property and general legal advice for various business units in the United States and worldwide. She received her bachelors degree in chemical engineering and applied science from Lehigh University and her masters degree in biopharmaceuticals from the University of Pennsylvania. Kim was awarded her law degree and Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Illinois and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She served as the Chair of the ABA Intellectual Property Law Section 2021-22 and is currently Chair of the ABA Section Officers Conference
Allison Sherrier guides middle market, private companies in M&A and corporate reorganization transactions. With extensive experience in both domestic and cross-border M&A, Allison represents buyers and sellers in M&A transactions across many industries including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and retail.
Amoy Chambers is SVP, Managing Associate General Counsel at HSBC, where she advises on legal, transactional, regulatory, and strategic matters within the financial services industry.
A senior legal executive and strategic advisor, Amoy brings deep experience across trade finance, consumer finance, payments, digital technology, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, litigation management, M&A, and complex commercial transactions. Her background includes counseling financial institutions and business teams on product development, risk management, structuring, distribution, and business-focused legal strategy in highly regulated environments.
Amoy earned her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and her B.A. from Binghamton University.
Anya Hodes is a partner in Proskauer’s Corporate Department and a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.
Anya advises a wide range of clients on complex mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs, tender and exchange offers, joint ventures and other significant transactions. Her practice spans public and private company mergers, take-private transactions and cross-border acquisitions. She also has extensive expertise in corporate governance, shareholder activism and special committee representation, having advised boards and management teams through contested transactions and proxy contests.
Anya is a trusted advisor to companies, private equity sponsors, and financial institutions across a diverse range of industries, including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, infrastructure and consumer goods.
Tracy Baran is General Counsel of Ocean State Job Lot, a regional retailer that sells brand name, first quality products at closeout prices. Ocean State Job Lot started with a single store in 1977 and has now grown to more than 160 stores in 11 states throughout New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Prior to joining Ocean State Job Lot in 2011, Tracy was a partner at Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, a Providence, Rhode Island based business law firm, at which she focused on commercial real estate and commercial lending.
She has been announced as one of the OnCon Top 50 and Top 100 Corporate Counsel Awards, was also named as an In-House Leader, Leaders in the Law by Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly, and a previous recipient of the Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association Ada Sayer award.
Tracy is active in her community, including serving on several committees in her church, Central Congregational Church, a past President and current member of The Junior League of Rhode Island, Inc., regular volunteer at and former Board member of Amos House, youth mentor with Foster Forward, and founder of DAMES Mentoring, which mentors teenage girls in residential housing, and mentoring foster youth, among other things.
In her spare time, Tracy enjoys reading, golfing, traveling and spending time with her family. Tracy lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her two children.
Krystin Kopen, an accomplished legal professional and trusted advisor, serves as Assistant General Counsel – Cyber & Global Security at JPMorganChase. Working at the intersection of law, technology, and security, she guides the firm through the fast-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, information security, and global security, including the novel legal and regulatory questions raised by innovative technologies such as AI, quantum, and blockchain. She counsels senior leaders on the challenges that define how a global financial institution protects itself and its clients in an era of rapid technological change.
A dedicated advocate for advancing women in the profession, Krystin is an active member of the Women’s Bond Club, where she has served on a range of committees supporting the organization’s mission to champion women through education, mentorship, and professional development. In 2022, she was honored with the Women’s Bond Club Rising Star Award, recognizing her as an emerging leader in financial services. She is also a founding member and inaugural board member of the Villanova Law Women’s Network, and she remains deeply committed to mentorship, both within JPMorganChase and across the broader legal community.
Krystin brings the same curiosity to life beyond the law. An artist, pianist, and devoted Francophile, she is a bibliophile, gastronome, cultural explorer, and lifelong learner, whose interests range from the future of technology to the enduring pleasures of art, music, and language. She holds a BA in English and French from Washington University in St. Louis, an MA in French from Middlebury College, a JD from Villanova University, and an LL.M. in French and European Law from the Sorbonne.
Tara Johnson is a transactional and regulatory healthcare leader with experience across health systems, national insurers, and benefits administrators. She is Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at Westchester Medical Center Health Network, one of New York’s top healthcare systems.
Previously, Tara served as General Counsel of Northwell Direct, a Northwell Health subsidiary offering wellness services, benefits administration solutions, and provider network access for employers that self-fund employee health benefits. She also served as General Counsel at Centivo, a third-party administrator startup, where she led legal, compliance, and privacy.
Earlier in her career, Tara was Senior Associate General Counsel and Director of Regulatory Affairs at UnitedHealthcare, supporting the Northeast commercial business and serving as regulatory lead counsel for Connecticut. Her work included contracting and benefit administration; product, marketing, and regulatory filings; market conduct exams and consumer complaints; payment integrity and fraud, waste, and abuse matters; and government relations.
Tara also served as Legal Counsel and later Chief of Staff to the Chief Information Officer at a BlueCross BlueShield plan in Western New York, with responsibilities spanning litigation and vendor management, contracting, and portfolio and capital budget management. She began her legal career as an assistant district attorney.
A frequent speaker and mentor, Tara presents on career strategy, outside counsel management, and emerging healthcare trends. She is a member of The Links, Incorporated, one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations, and a Fellow alum of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Tara earned a B.A. in English and a J.D. from the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York.
Sherry Xie is a partner in the Tax practice and is based in the firm’s New York office. Sherry advises U.S. and international clients, both public and private, on a broad range of tax matters, including the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and other complex business transactions. She routinely represents leading public corporations and private equity firms and their portfolio companies across multiple industries, including consumer products, technology, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services.
Amanda K. Pooler is a partner in Akerman LLP’s Litigation Practice Group and represents public and private companies, financial institutions, and their directors and officers in complex disputes. Her practice focuses on high-stakes corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring-related litigation, including fiduciary duty claims, contested transactions, and securities actions. Amanda has litigated numerous matters in the Delaware Court of Chancery, including expedited proceedings, stockholder class actions, busted deal litigation, and contests for corporate control. She has also been involved in notable appeals before the Delaware Supreme Court that have shaped key aspects of corporate law.
Prior to joining Akerman, Amanda spent more than a decade practicing in New York at a leading international law firm and later at a prominent Delaware firm. In addition to her practice, Amanda has contributed to legal education as a Lecturing Fellow at Duke University School of Law, where she co-taught a seminar on M&A litigation.
Kristiana Zuccarini is a partner in Kennedys’ New York office, where her practice focuses on insurance defense litigation. She represents domestic and international clients, including high-net-worth individuals and Fortune 500 companies, in matters involving premises liability, negligent security, construction accidents, property damage, products liability, professional malpractice, and general negligence.
Kristiana handles matters through all stages of litigation, including trial and alternative dispute resolution. A strategic and results-driven advocate, she focuses on achieving practical and effective outcomes for her clients. She also writes and presents on developments in New York civil practice, negligence, labor law, and insurance claims, most recently co-authoring an article on the AVOID Act and its impact on New York litigation.
She earned her JD from Hofstra University and her BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Law from Binghamton University.
Rose Marie Glazer is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at AIG, where she oversees the company’s legal, compliance, regulatory and government affairs functions, as well as Global Security and the Sustainability Office.
A senior C-suite legal executive with more than 30 years of experience across global companies and industries, Rose Marie brings deep expertise in corporate governance, securities disclosure, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory matters, compliance, enterprise risk, human capital management, sustainability, and legal leadership at scale. Since joining AIG in 2017, she has held senior roles including Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Deputy General Counsel, and served as Chief Human Resources Officer from January 2022 through May 2024.
Before joining AIG, Rose Marie held multiple legal leadership roles at Siemens AG, including Senior Vice President and General Counsel — Americas, following earlier in-house roles at Telvista, Allied Riser Communications, and American Airlines. She began her legal career at Jones Day in Dallas.
Rose Marie earned her law degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University School of Law. She also holds a B.B.A. in Accounting and a B.A. in Spanish, both summa cum laude, from Southern Methodist University, and is admitted to the State Bar of Texas.
Christine is a seasoned Fortune 100 executive with CEO experience and deep expertise in the transportation, logistics, supply chain and e-commerce areas. She has lived, worked and led teams in Europe and Asia in addition to North America.
Christine is currently Interim Chief Executive Officer of Foremost Group, a privately owned international shipping company. She assumed this role in February 2024. The eco-friendly, modern fleet is approximately 5 million metric tons deadweight, transporting more than 20 million tons of goods annually and chartered to blue chip companies such as Bunge, Cargill, Louis-Dreyfus, MOL and NYK who together with each of their Fortune 500 clients and other leading international companies determine which dry-bulk products Foremost vessels transport. She has been responsible for all operations, finances and general health and strength of the company, including all employees worldwide. Prior to stepping in as Interim CEO, Christine had been General Counsel of Foremost Group. As General Counsel, she has been instrumental in quadrupling the number of assets and tripling the number of employees by setting strategy, managing risk and problem solving; she is responsible for all legal, compliance and regulatory matters.
Christine has extensive corporate and commercial law experience having worked in senior legal positions for three Fortune 200 companies: GE, Federal Express and Ultramar Corporation. At Ultramar, she worked on Board matters as well as all corporate public company matters. She gained additional significant global experience when she worked with FedEx, Managing Director/Regional General Counsel, initially in Hong Kong (where FedEx executed its first ever joint venture) and subsequently in the United Kingdom. She was actively involved in a diverse array of governmental affairs, compliance, regulatory and legal matters and was awarded FedEx’s Five Star Award, bestowed upon less than 0.25 of FedEx’s top performing employees (approximately 295,000 at the time). Upon repatriation, Christine joined GE and worked on a broad range of transportation transactions before becoming General Counsel at Foremost Group.
Christine has extensive nonprofit Board experience including serving as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for her alma mater Colgate University, a leading liberal arts university with an undergraduate population of over 3300 students and an annual operating budget of nearly $300mn. She holds a BA from Colgate and a JD from Columbia University, School of Law. She is conversational in Mandarin Chinese and is a dual US/UK citizen.
Sharanya Mitchell is Senior Vice President and Head of Regulatory and International Legal at Cohen & Steers, a publicly listed global asset manager with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Based in New York, she leads the firm’s regulatory strategy across global markets, with responsibility for international corporate and fund governance, cross-border distribution, ESG and sustainability matters, data privacy, and legal oversight of international affiliates and funds. She also serves on the board of the Cohen & Steers’ UCITS funds.
Prior to joining Cohen & Steers, she practiced at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and was counsel at the New York Stock Exchange. Prior to her time in New York, she spent time in London advising on financial regulation during the financial crisis at Banque AIG, the investment bank, and contributed to policy development at Her Majesty’s Courts Service in the UK Ministry of Justice.
She holds a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School (with honors), a Bachelor of Laws (Honors) from the University of London, an Executive Education Diploma in Capital Markets Regulation and Compliance from Henley Business School and FINRA International, and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honors) from the University of New South Wales. She is an active member of the Investment Company Institute, the Institutional Investors Legal Forum, and the New York City Bar Association, where she serves on both the Compliance Committee and the Foreign & Comparative Law Committee.
Shushana Jachobov is Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at The New York Times, where she serves as a senior business affairs and legal affairs executive advising on strategic commercial transactions, technology, media, and revenue-generating business models.
Her work spans complex deals involving artificial intelligence and generative AI, multimedia content creation and distribution, licensing, ecommerce, global product development counseling, compliance programs, governance, and enterprise risk management. She also leads multidisciplinary teams supporting technology platforms, subscription models, and other business initiatives across the organization.
Shushana earned her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and her B.A. from Yeshiva University, and is admitted to practice in New York.
Lauren Davis is a Principal at Offit Kurman, advising employers, executives, and organizations on complex employment and workplace law matters. She represents clients ranging from startups and nonprofits to multinational companies across industries including financial services, insurance, real estate, luxury goods, and the arts. Her practice spans litigation and counseling, with a focus on restrictive covenants, trade secret disputes, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims, and whistleblower matters.
In addition to her litigation work, Lauren provides day-to-day strategic guidance on hiring, terminations, compliance, executive agreements, and workplace policies, and regularly leads internal investigations. She practices across New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., and appears before federal and state courts and agencies. A certified New Jersey court-trained mediator, she began her career clerking in the New Jersey Superior Court and remains actively involved in the arts as a founding board member of a nonprofit supporting women in creative fields.
Tammy Mercer is a partner in Akerman LLP’s Litigation Practice Group and a nationally recognized Delaware corporate litigator with more than 19 years of experience advising boards of directors, private equity sponsors, and corporate stakeholders on complex governance and high-stakes disputes.
Her practice is concentrated in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Superior Court, where she handles sophisticated matters involving mergers and acquisitions, going-private transactions, proxy contests, valuation and appraisal proceedings, and directors’ and officers’ liability.
Tammy is also widely respected for her work on indemnification and advancement proceedings, stockholder books-and-records demands, and governance disputes involving alternative entities, including LLCs, limited partnerships, and master limited partnerships. In addition, she represents clients in non-competition and trade secret matters.
Before joining Akerman, Tammy served as chair of the Corporate Litigation and Counseling Group at a leading Delaware law firm, where she built a reputation as a trusted advisor in some of the most complex and consequential corporate disputes.
Tammy is ranked by Chambers for her work in the Delaware Chancery space and is recognized by her peers for her practical judgment, strategic insight, and strong client advocacy.
A frequent speaker on corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and Delaware law developments, Tammy is actively involved in the American Bar Association and Delaware State Bar Association.
Mikaela Whitman is a partner in McGuireWoods’ Insurance Recovery Practice, where she represents policyholders in complex insurance coverage matters. Splitting her time between the firm’s Los Angeles and New York offices, Mikaela advises clients on disputes involving D&O, E&O, builder’s risk, property, general liability, media liability, product liability, employment practices liability, pollution liability, event cancellation, and reps and warranties insurance.
She previously spent two years seconded to AECOM, a Fortune 500 multinational infrastructure consulting firm, where she advised the risk management group and corporate legal team on insurance coverage issues, disputes, and risk mitigation strategies across the company’s global portfolio. Mikaela is also a frequent writer and speaker on insurance coverage matters and is the author of PLI’s A Policyholder’s Primer on Insurance.
Jennifer Schatzman is the Global Chief Integration Officer at global healthcare communications network, Publicis Health, where she leads the unification of talent, processes, and culture across agencies to strengthen organizational alignment and accelerate growth.
A former General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer, Jennifer brings a rare blend of legal expertise, people leadership, and strategic business insight. Over her career, she has built cross-functional frameworks, guided organizations through complex change, and served as a trusted advisor to senior leaders navigating transformation.
Beyond her executive role, Jennifer is deeply committed to advancing equity and inclusion. She has founded and led nonprofit initiatives, facilitated anti-bias workshops, and mentored emerging leaders across industries.
She is known for her collaborative approach, her ability to bring diverse teams together, and her passion for creating environments where people and ideas can thrive.
Akiko Yamahara is Wealth General Counsel at TIAA, where she serves as a senior legal advisor to the firm’s Wealth business.
With more than 30 years of experience across global financial services, Akiko brings deep expertise in legal strategy, securities, banking, regulatory matters, corporate governance, and cross-border business. Prior to joining TIAA in August 2026, she spent 22 years at Citi, most recently as Global General Counsel for Citi’s Wealth business and a member of the Legal Management Committee. During her tenure, she held senior legal roles spanning investment banking, capital markets, private banking, consumer banking, and wealth management in Tokyo, London, and New York.
Earlier in her career, Akiko practiced at A&O Shearman and Davis Polk & Wardwell. She serves on the Board of Overseers at Temple University Japan, where she has also taught international securities regulation and negotiation. She earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law and her B.S. in Finance from NYU Stern School of Business.
Mala Ahuja Harker is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. She represents individuals and corporations in the financial services, pharmaceutical, and other industries in connection with white collar, securities, employment, and complex commercial litigation matters.
Prior to rejoining Friedman Kaplan, where she was formerly a partner, Ms. Harker served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 2011 through 2017. In this role, Ms. Harker investigated and prosecuted cases involving sophisticated financial frauds, insider trading, securities violations, mortgage and bank fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, public corruption, identity theft and cybercrime, as well as violent crime and drug offenses, among others.
Ms. Harker’s work for the U.S. Attorney’s office included a long term investigation involving corruption at the Newark Watershed Conservation & Development Corporation, which resulted in the conviction of several high ranking employees and outside contractors of the agency.
Lisa Gora is a Shareholder at Baker Donelson, where she advises clients on regulatory compliance, corporate transactions, and emerging legal frameworks. Her practice focuses on health care, cannabis, and psychedelic law, guiding providers, investors, and operators through complex federal and state regulatory environments. She represents a broad range of clients including hospitals, physician groups, academic medical centers, and multi-state operators, with work spanning licensing, reimbursement, fraud and abuse compliance, and transactional structuring.
In addition to her regulatory work, Lisa counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and ownership structures within highly regulated industries, with particular depth in evolving sectors such as cannabis and psychedelics. She regularly navigates statutes including the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, and state False Claims Acts, and is recognized for her leadership in emerging policy areas, including serving in bar association roles related to psychedelic law
Faiza Javaid is Associate General Counsel at Real Chemistry, where she advises on legal, commercial, and strategic matters for a healthcare experience group operating at the intersection of science, technology, marketing, communications, and AI-driven audience engagement.
A senior legal executive with deep experience across media, advertising, digital platforms, healthcare communications, and consumer-facing businesses, Faiza brings a business-minded approach to complex legal issues involving commercial transactions, digital media, marketing, content, data, compliance, and corporate risk. Her background includes advising organizations through evolving technology, revenue, and content models while supporting cross-functional teams and business growth.
Faiza earned her law degree from Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University.
Nora Schmitt is Assistant General Counsel, Privacy & Cybersecurity at GRAIL, where she advises on privacy, cybersecurity, health data, and legal risk matters for a healthcare company focused on early cancer detection.
A privacy and healthcare legal leader, Nora brings experience counseling life sciences, healthcare, research, and technology-driven organizations on complex regulatory and data governance issues. Her background includes advising on clinical research, health information privacy, genetic privacy, HIPAA, HITECH, state privacy laws, research contracting, data use, and compliance matters involving biopharma, medical device, and healthcare organizations.
Nora earned her J.D., cum laude, from Boston College Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Amherst College.
Kristen Prinz is an employment lawyer, business counselor, and founder of The Prinz Law Firm. She focuses on providing clients with strategic and cost-effective legal and business planning solutions to assist business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals in building and realizing their potential.
Ms. Prinz empowers business owners to launch, grow, and thrive in their businesses by developing policies that advance their business needs, creating agreements that protect their client and employee relationships, and advising businesses on utilizing employment practices that foster a positive workplace culture. Her pragmatic approach helps clients limit risk in recruiting, hiring, onboarding, assessing, and separating employees.
Ms. Prinz is also a strong advocate for employees, including a variety of executives and physicians. She helps negotiate employment contracts and severance packages for professionals, and has litigated complex claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as contract disputes, wage claims, and whistleblower claims.
Katie Celeste Speegle is partner in the firm’s Trial practice group and brings more than 15 years of experience from the US. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, where she served as a trial attorney and Assistant Chief of the Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section. Her practice focuses on complex antitrust investigations and litigation, with particular experience in merger review and enforcement actions, conduct investigations, and trial work involving highly regulated industries. She represents clients before antitrust enforcers and in federal courts around the country, and she regularly advises clients on M&A transactions and antitrust compliance matters.
She received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a member of the Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Bates College.
Maryann C. Stallone is a partner in Tannenbaum Helpern’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Trusts & Estates Litigation practices. An accomplished advocate with more than 15 years of experience, she represents businesses, fiduciaries and individuals in high-stakes and complex commercial and estate-related disputes in state and federal courts throughout New York and New Jersey, as well as in arbitration and mediation proceedings.
Her practice spans a broad range of matters, including business divorce and ownership disputes, trade secret misappropriation and restrictive covenant disputes, unfair competition, tortious interference, intellectual property claims, fraud, accountings and trusts and estates litigation. She advises clients across diverse industries, including financial services, real estate, construction, media, retail, staffing, cybersecurity, and nonprofit sectors.
Maryann is also an active leader within the legal profession. She serves as Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Commercial & Federal Litigation Section and has chaired the Section’s annual Taking the Lead program, a trial advocacy initiative which showcases and promotes women commercial litigators through the re-enactment of an actual civil trial and awards ceremony. She also serves as Co-Chair of Tannenbaum Helpern’s Women’s Initiative and is deeply committed to the advancement and mentorship of women and other junior attorneys in the legal profession.
Maryann frequently speaks and writes on issues affecting businesses, including restrictive covenants, business divorce, professional responsibility, and cybersecurity issues. She has been recognized in Legal 500’s US City Elite rankings (2026), Crain’s New York Business’ Notable Women in Law list (2026) and Crain’s Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys list (2025). She is consistently named to Super Lawyers’ annual list for her achievements in commercial litigationand has been named to the Top 50: Women New York – Metro Super Lawyers list (2024 & 2025).
Carolyn McNerney is Director & Associate General Counsel at LG Electronics, where she advises on a broad range of corporate legal, commercial, labor and employment, regulatory, and business matters.
A senior in-house counsel with deep experience supporting complex corporate organizations, Carolyn brings a practical, business-focused perspective to legal leadership, risk management, commercial transactions, employment issues, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance. Her background includes serving as legal counsel for North America human resources, audit, vehicle components, and mobile communications matters at LG Electronics USA, as well as prior experience in commercial transactions, sales support, and regulatory compliance.
Carolyn earned her J.D. and M.B.A. from Fordham.
Erin N. Mackin is a Partner at Gerber Ciano focusing on the defense of corporations, municipalities, retailers, and transportation companies in a wide range of civil liability matters, including construction, premises liability, property damage, and motor vehicle claims. She represents clients in both federal and New York state courts and has handled all phases of litigation—from discovery through trial and appeal—briefing cases before the First and Second Departments of the New York Appellate Division.
Her practice is grounded in hands-on litigation experience, including complex investigations, evidence development, and motion practice, as well as federal civil rights defense under Section 1983. Prior work in claims analysis for a multi-billion-dollar environmental fund informs her approach to risk, internal protocols, and client strategy, allowing her to align legal defense with operational realities while effectively advocating through trial and appellate proceedings.
Crystal Banse is a partner at Spencer West US LLP in New York. She represents employers and executives across the full spectrum of employment and labor law, from workforce compliance, employee handbooks, executive compensation, and restrictive covenants, through investigations, severance, and separation negotiations, to dispute resolution and full-service litigation defense when necessary.
Crystal brings more than 15 years of experience across government service, military law, and private practice. She served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, advising senior leadership on HR, investigations, and compliance matters and overseeing a legal assistance program for service members. As an Assistant Attorney General, she advised state agencies on risk management and compliance and litigated complex civil rights, constitutional, and administrative matters in state and federal courts, including before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She later founded her own litigation and advisory practice before joining an AmLaw 200 firm, where she served as a corporate and tax attorney for domestic and international private equity clients.
She earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Jill M. Williamson is a Principal at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., where she advises companies and entrepreneurs on corporate matters, emerging technologies, regulatory compliance, government investigations, and risk management. Drawing on senior in-house experience at both a Fortune 100 company and a publicly traded mid-sized company, Jill provides practical counsel to businesses operating in rapidly evolving industries, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, and esports. She also serves as outside general counsel to emerging technology companies and advises on anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, export controls, economic sanctions, securities regulation, data privacy, and internal investigations.
Before practicing law, Jill served for seven years in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist, signals intelligence operator, and arms control inspector. She earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Maryland University College, now the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Layne A. Feldman is a partner in the Firm’s litigation department. Her practice spans a range of complex commercial and civil litigation matters, including commercial lease disputes, Consumer Fraud Act claims, corporate/shareholder disputes, and secured property actions. Ms. Feldman also has experience in the litigation of products liability and property damage claims, and experience representing Condominium Associations and Cooperatives.
Ms. Feldman also represents employees and employers in all aspects of employment law. She routinely prepares and reviews severance agreements, employee handbooks, and policies. She also defends her clients against claims and charges brought by current and former employees alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, breach of contract, violation of restrictive covenant obligations, and misappropriation of confidential information claims.
She received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she was a member of the Seton Hall Circuit Review and a semi-finalist in the Eugene Gressman Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition. Following law school, Ms. Feldman clerked for the Honorable Lawrence M. Maron, J.S.C., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Passaic County.
Jenna is an experienced litigator who represents clients in high-stakes commercial disputes and class action litigation. She has represented clients in federal and state courts throughout the country in areas including antitrust, contract disputes, financial services, consumer protection, construction, False Claims Act, and data breach litigation. She also has extensive experience litigating complex adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court.
Jenna is a results-oriented litigator, who has obtained significant recoveries for her clients. She played a critical role in achieving a $198 million settlement against Navient on behalf of student loan borrowers whose loans had been discharged in bankruptcy. She has successfully litigated several contract disputes on behalf of renewable energy companies, including obtaining a critical preliminary injunction, which led to prompt and favorable settlement for her client. Additionally, she successfully defended a leading financial services company in clawback proceedings stemming from the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, following years of hard-fought litigation.
Jenna joined the firm following a clerkship with the Hon. Lawrence E. Kahn of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. She also spent two years working as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand. She serves as a member of the firm’s diversity committee and is the pro bono coordinator for the Albany office. Jenna is also a board member of RISE, a nonprofit dedicated to providing housing and supportive services for those struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, as well as the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
Sorell E. Negro is a partner in Brown Rudnick’s Real Estate practice, advising institutional clients, developers, investors, landlords and tenants on complex commercial real estate and development matters. Her experience spans acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, construction, zoning, environmental compliance and major hospitality and infrastructure projects in the United States and internationally.
Before joining Brown Rudnick, Sorell served as senior in-house real estate counsel at Royal Caribbean Group, where she worked on the development and operation of cruise ports, terminals and private destinations. She previously clerked for the Honorable Fernando M. Olguin of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Sorell earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Cornell Law School and her B.S., cum laude, from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She is admitted to practice in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida and has been recognized by Lawdragon as one of its 500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers.
Leah Brownlee Taylor is a Member of the Firm in Epstein Becker Green’s Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice. A seasoned trial attorney with more than two decades of experience, she represents employers in high-stakes employment and civil rights litigation, complex workplace investigations and disputes involving government scrutiny. Before joining the firm, Leah spent more than 14 years with the U.S. Department of Justice, most recently serving as Acting General Counsel of the U.S. Marshals Service and as a member of the Senior Executive Service. Her experience includes resolving significant Title VII class actions and litigating matters involving the First Amendment, Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause. Leah earned her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law–Newark.
Taylor M. Owings is a partner in the New York office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she represents clients in civil merger and non-merger matters before federal and state agencies and in private litigation. She also advises businesses on antitrust compliance and strategy, with particular experience in technology-focused industries.
Before entering private practice, Taylor served in the front office of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division as counsel to the Assistant Attorney General and later as chief of staff. She advised on major technology-sector investigations, intellectual property and standard-setting issues, and landmark monopolization and vertical-merger challenges. She also has significant trial and appellate experience and has argued before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First and Fourth Circuits.
Taylor has been recognized by Chambers USA, Bloomberg Law, The New York Law Journal and Global Competition Review. She earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and an A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University.
Shannon T. O’Connor is a Partner at Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP, where she focuses her practice on employment law, municipal law, commercial litigation, and insurance defense. With more than 14 years of litigation experience, she represents public and private sector clients in employment, civil rights, constitutional, and workplace compliance matters. Shannon is a Local Government Fellow of the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA), serves as IMLA’s New York State Co-Chair, and has been recognized with the IMLA Amicus Service Award and Marvin J. Glink Award.
Susan Zhu is a Partner at Morgan Lewis, where she represents clients on antitrust and competition matters, including M&A, government investigations, complex antitrust litigation, and corporate counseling. She appears before the Federal Trade Commission, the US Department of Justice, and federal and state courts, with a client roster spanning Fortune 250 companies, private equity sponsors, technology, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Her recent matters include representing Intercontinental Exchange in its $16 billion proposed acquisition of Black Knight.
Susan holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Economics, cum laude, from Harvard College. She is admitted in New York and DC, and won Global Competition Review’s Matter of the Year Award in 2026.
Raphaella M. Poteau is a partner at Margolis Edelstein, where she maintains a multijurisdictional civil and commercial litigation practice. She represents clients ranging from individuals to global corporations in matters involving professional liability, employment law, civil rights, medical malpractice, premises liability, contract disputes, and other complex litigation. Before entering private practice, Raphaella served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Joseph M. Cosgrove in Pennsylvania.
Raphaella earned her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she served as Vice President of the Moot Court Honor Society and was a member of the Civil Rights Law Review. She received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia, as well as several federal courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Her professional recognition includes selection to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars lists and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
Giovanna “Gina” Ferrari is a partner at Seyfarth Shaw and Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, where she leads more than 160 litigators across a broad range of practices and industries. An experienced trial lawyer, Gina focuses on complex commercial litigation, class action defense and high-stakes fraud and contract disputes, frequently serving as lead trial and arbitration counsel in bet-the-company matters throughout the United States. She also advises clients on corporate governance issues and has significant experience defending consumer fraud claims in state and federal courts and mass arbitrations.
Gina also serves as co-chair of Seyfarth’s Impact & Sustainability practice, helping companies navigate sustainability goals, governance and disclosure requirements. Her professional recognitions include Corporate Counsel Business Journal’s 50 Women to Watch, Benchmark Litigation’s “Litigation Star” designation and The National Law Journal’s Western Region Trailblazer recognition. She earned her JD, magna cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law and her BA in Political Science from UCLA. She also holds a certification in Sustainable Capitalism and ESG from Berkeley Law.
Kelly Griffin-Fromm is a Partner in the Tarrytown, New York and Paramus, New Jersey offices of Resnick & Louis, P.C. and has extensive litigation experience in insurance coverage, breach of contract, professional liability, construction, products-liability and general civil litigation. Kelly’s experience includes the analysis, investigation and litigation of complex commercial matters. She routinely appears before mediators and arbitrators and has successfully resolved numerous civil actions. Additionally, Kelly regularly handles appellate work and has successfully argued appeals, notably in areas involving civil RICO claims.
Prior to law school, Kelly was an NCAA Division II athlete, attending college on scholarships jointly for basketball and academics. Kelly went on to attend law school where she was the Business Editor for the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal as well as the President of Habitat for Humanity.
Kelly is an ardent sports enthusiast and a competitive volleyball player, playing in two weekly leagues. She also enjoys kayaking, mountain biking and camping along with cheering for her New York Mets and spending time with her two daughters.
Kelly is admitted to practice before the courts of the states of New York and New Jersey, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey. She has also argued appeals in the First and Second Departments of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Sarah A. Wisniewski is an Associate at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., where she practices in the firm’s Employment and Education group. She represents private and public entities in a range of workplace matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, wage-and-hour disputes, retaliation, and restrictive covenant matters. She also works closely with human resources and labor relations professionals on employment-related counseling and compliance issues.
Prior to joining Porzio, Sarah served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Anne M. Patterson, Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and previously interned for the Honorable Freda L. Wolfson, then Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Sarah earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she received the Ackerman Fellowship, Alfred F. Jablonski Scholarship, and Faculty Law Scholarship and was recognized as a Top 10 Best Oralist in the 2023 ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition. She earned her B.A. from The George Washington University.
Jamie R. Prisco is a Partner at Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP and a member of the firm’s General Litigation, Construction, and Municipal & Government practice groups. With more than 15 years of experience, she represents construction companies, municipalities, national retailers, and other clients in complex civil litigation in New York state and federal courts. Her practice includes high-exposure matters involving catastrophic injuries, construction and Labor Law claims, contractual disputes, insurance coverage issues, and municipal liability.
Prior to private practice, Jamie worked as in-house counsel for a major insurance company and interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She has been recognized by New York Metro Super Lawyers since 2022, following seven consecutive years as a Rising Star, and was named among the Top Women Attorneys in the New York Metro Area from 2022–2024. She has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.
Jamie earned her J.D., cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law and her B.S., summa cum laude, from the University at Buffalo. She is admitted to practice in New York and before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
Christine Baker is a Partner at O’Toole Scrivo with more than 30 years of experience across the public and private sectors. Her practice spans employment law, complex commercial and business litigation, regulatory compliance, internal investigations, government contracting, and real estate and land use matters. She advises employers on all aspects of the employment relationship, including workplace policies, investigations, compliance, dispute resolution, and management and employee training.
Before joining O’Toole Scrivo, Christine served as Chief Counsel to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, where she previously held several senior legal and strategic leadership positions. She also served as Chief Compliance/Ethics Officer for NJ Transit and held senior roles within the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, including Chief Counsel to the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General. Earlier in her career, she was Executive Counsel to an international real estate services company and a partner at an AmLaw 100 firm.
Christine has appeared before state and federal trial and appellate courts and arbitration tribunals, argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court, and served as a mediator for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. She has also held leadership positions with the New Jersey State Bar Association and New Jersey Women Lawyers Association.
Tamar Kaplan-Marans is a Partner at WilmerHale, where she focuses on securities litigation and enforcement matters. She represents companies and their officers and directors in securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, merger disputes, corporate governance matters and high-stakes regulatory investigations.
Tamar also has significant experience with investigations involving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice, including matters related to cybersecurity, insider trading, auditing and independence, securities lending and consumer financial laws. She has been recognized by Chambers USA for Securities Litigation in New York.
Allyson M. Maur is a Partner at McGuireWoods, where she advises life sciences and healthcare companies on FDA regulation, data privacy, healthcare compliance, clinical research and commercial matters. Her practice spans emerging issues at the intersection of healthcare, technology and artificial intelligence, including AI-enabled drug development, digital health and the use of health data.
Prior to returning to private practice, Allyson served as Associate General Counsel and Data Privacy Officer for both a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and a molecular diagnostics company, giving her a practical perspective on the regulatory and operational challenges facing healthcare businesses. She holds a certification in Clinical Bioethics from Hofstra University School of Law and has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Health Care Law and Technology Law.
Lauren Goldman is a Partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, where she represents clients in complex commercial, employment, securities and antitrust litigation in state and federal courts. She has handled matters through trial and recently played a key role in securing a $39 million jury verdict in a breach-of-contract action. Lauren previously clerked for Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and has been named to the Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation. She earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A., summa cum laude, from UCLA.
Zanna Lantzman is Counsel in Brown Rudnick’s Real Estate Practice Group, with more than 25 years of experience in real estate law, corporate governance, shopping center development, and in-house corporate operations. She advises developers and retail tenants on a broad range of transactional matters, with particular experience in retail leasing. Prior to joining Brown Rudnick, Zanna held in-house roles at Urban Edge Properties and Bed Bath & Beyond, giving her experience from both the landlord and tenant perspectives.
Jessica Kenney Bonteque is a Partner at Duane Morris, where she focuses on business reorganization and financial restructuring. She represents creditors, debtors, equity holders, distressed-asset purchasers and other stakeholders in Chapter 11 proceedings, out-of-court restructurings, cross-border insolvencies and related disputes. Her experience spans a broad range of industries and includes complex litigation involving fiduciary duties, financing arrangements and distressed transactions. Jessica also serves as Co-Chair and a Board Member of the New York International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.
Melissa D. Hill is a Partner at Morgan Lewis and leads the firm’s Labor and Employment practice in New York. She represents employers, employee benefit plans and fiduciaries in complex employment and ERISA litigation, including class actions involving retirement plans, fiduciary duties and benefits claims, as well as disputes involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Melissa also represents clients in U.S. Department of Labor investigations and advises employers on workplace decisions and litigation avoidance. She previously served as co-managing partner of Morgan Lewis’s New York office and has been recognized by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 for her ERISA litigation practice and named a Law360 Benefits MVP.
Mary Beth Maloney is a first-chair trial lawyer for public companies, their boards, and senior executives in their highest-stakes federal and state court litigation, securities matters, government enforcement actions, and complex commercial disputes, with a particular focus on healthcare, life sciences, and financial services. She is regularly retained as lead trial counsel when public companies face existential threats—from regulators and watchdog organizations, in securities class actions and SEC enforcement matters, and in bet-the-company commercial disputes.
Mary Beth serves on the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, the Board of Directors of the Center for Justice Innovation, and the Board of Directors of the New York City Urban Debate League. She is also an Advisory Board Member for Women in Funds.
Monica K. Loseman is a co-chair of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Securities Litigation Practice Group. Monica focuses her practice in corporate and securities litigation, investment advisor and fund litigation and investigations, financial reporting, accounting and related investigations, and accountant defense. She is a first chair trial lawyer, with trials in the Delaware Court of Chancery, bench and jury trials across the country, private arbitrations, and several trials before SEC administrative law judges.
Recognized by Chambers, Legal 500, Lawdragon, Benchmark Litigation, and Super Lawyers as a top-rated Securities Litigator, Monica has substantial experience in a variety of complex civil and corporate litigation matters. Chambers USA ranks Monica in its General Commercial Litigation and nationwide Accounting and Auditor Liability categories. The Legal 500 United States recognizes Monica as a “Leading Partner” in securities litigation defense and a recommended lawyer for M&A litigation defense. She is featured as one of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” from 2023 to 2026, which recognizes “attorneys who excel representing principally corporations and other organizations in litigating claims.” She was also featured as a Law Week Colorado 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” and Denver Business Journal 2016 “40 under 40” Winner. Monica was also included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for her work in Securities Regulation.
She defends companies and their officers and directors in class actions and derivative litigation and in regulatory investigations, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and the Department of Justice. Monica also has substantial experience in corporate governance matters, including litigation involving mergers and acquisitions and control disputes. She represents Board committees in conducting independent investigations involving allegations of corporate fraud and issues relating to financial reporting, accounting, internal controls, as well as special litigation matters and other issues, and is skilled at interacting with Board committees and other stakeholders in presenting results and recommendations. Clients have described Monica as an “excellent oral advocate, organized, to the point and very client-focused.”
Monica was appointed to the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council in 2023 and is currently serving her third term. She is a frequent speaker on securities litigation and SEC Enforcement matters and has co-authored several articles and contributed to texts regarding securities litigation topics.
Sponsors
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Greenberg Traurig is a global law firm with approximately 2,750 attorneys and governmental affairs professionals in 47 commercial and government centers across the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. Greenberg Traurig provides integrated, business-focused legal services for clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to innovative start-ups. Recognized by Chambers, the Legal 500 and BTI Consulting, our global team of nearly 200 labor, employment, benefits, and immigration practitioners offers an array of workplace strategies and legal counsel, including consulting, technical assistance, and litigation services. For additional information, please visit www.gtlaw.com.
Gibson Dunn
Gibson Dunn is a leading international law firm. Consistently ranking among the world’s top law firms in industry surveys and major publications, Gibson Dunn is distinctively positioned in today’s global marketplace with more than 2,000 lawyers, and 21 offices, in Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Dallas, Denver, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Orange County, Palo Alto, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Singapore, and Washington, D.C. For more information on Gibson Dunn, please visit the firm’s website:
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., is a national law firm with a primary focus on health care and life sciences; employment, labor, and workforce management; and litigation and business disputes. Founded in 1973 as an industry-focused firm, Epstein Becker Green has decades of experience serving clients in health care, financial services, retail, hospitality, and technology, among other industries, representing entities from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Operating in locations throughout the United States and supporting domestic and multinational clients, the firm’s attorneys are committed to uncompromising client service and legal excellence.
Prinz Law Firm
The Prinz Law Firm is a Chicago-based boutique law firm focused on employment and business law. The firm represents executives, professionals, and businesses in a wide range of workplace-related matters, including employment agreements, non-compete disputes, discrimination claims, whistleblower actions, executive severance negotiations, and workplace investigations. Its attorneys also advise companies on business transactions, compliance, and strategic employment issues affecting leadership and organizational culture.
Founded by employment lawyer Kristen Prinz, the firm is a certified woman-owned business and is known for its client-centered, strategic approach to resolving employment disputes and advising organizations. The firm works with both employers and employees—particularly senior professionals, physicians, and business owners—helping clients navigate complex workplace conflicts while protecting their legal rights and professional interests.
Goulston & Storrs PC.
Goulston & Storrs is a modern, vibrant firm where the practice of law is pursued with deep expertise, wide diligence and inspiring camaraderie. As an Am Law 200 law firm, we have a rich bench of lawyers, paralegals and business professionals collaborating across multiple disciplines and industries. Known for its roots as a real estate powerhouse, the firm includes leading corporate, litigation, and private client and trust practices.
G&S provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, natural hair texture, type, length, and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, handicap, disability, or veteran status in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. In addition, G&S complies with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
Cleary Gottlieb
Cleary Gottlieb is a leading international law firm, with 16 offices located in major financial centers around the world, that has helped shape the globalization of the legal profession for more than 75 years. Our AI practice is renowned for providing sophisticated interdisciplinary and cross-jurisdictional advice in connection with high-profile, high-value, and often cross-border AI-related matters. Clients from around the world and a wide range of industries rely on the firm’s IP litigation and arbitration experience, and when IP disputes are fought in multiple jurisdictions, Cleary’s global reach sets us apart. Cleary’s innovation stretches to its eDiscovery team that are pioneers in the litigation space using AI, as well as ClearyX, an ALSP that is wholly owned by the Firm, that was founded to reimagine the future of legal services. Cleary’s globally recognized lawyers and professionals have a proven track record for providing work of the highest quality to meet the needs of our domestic and international clients.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
At Seyfarth Shaw, we are leading the way to deliver legal services more effectively, more efficiently, more transparently.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides thoughtful, strategic, practical legal counsel to client companies and legal teams of all sizes. With more than 850 attorneys in the U.S., London, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Sydney, we offer a national platform and an international gateway to serve your changing business and legal needs in litigation, employment, corporate, real estate and employee benefits.
Seyfarth attorneys are:
- Client-Focused: A constant, unrelenting focus on the needs of our clients
- Forward-Thinking: A commitment to excellence and to constantly seeking better ways to serve our clients
- Innovative: An atmosphere that fosters creative innovative thinking
We have gained acclaim for our innovative SeyfarthLean client service model, which incorporates the core principles of Lean Six Sigma to the delivery of legal services, and we continue to develop new reporting and project management tools for greater transparency and collaboration with our clients.
Our efforts have contributed to our recognition by in-house counsel as ‘Best of the Best’ for client service within the BTI Consulting Group’s Client Service A-Team and being named by the Financial Times U.S. Innovative Lawyers Report among the most innovative law firms.
Seyfarth Shaw. The difference is clear.
Paul Hastings
With widely recognized elite teams in finance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, restructuring and special situations, litigation, employment and real estate, Paul Hastings is a premier law firm providing superior intellectual capital and execution globally to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers and corporations. Paul Hastings is ranked as one of the top firms in the world in The American Lawyer’s “Premier League” for momentum, profit and prestige amongst firms in the 2022 American Lawyer 100.
Offit Kurman
Offit Kurman Attorneys At Law is a dynamic legal services provider assisting clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Our firm is well positioned to meet the legal needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. The attorneys at Offit Kurman have made it their mission to be your most trusted legal advisors, the professionals who help you maximize and protect your business value and individual wealth. Offit Kurman offers a wide array of legal expertise, while continuously striving to minimize the impact on your bottom line.
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
For more than 125 years, Baker Donelson has built a reputation for achieving results for our clients on a wide range of legal matters. While providing legal services is our focus, it is how we deliver them that sets us apart. Our goal is to provide clients with more than what they have come to expect from a law firm.
Baker Donelson commits to a deep understanding of a client’s business, to enable us to anticipate clients’ needs and assist in their decision making processes. Because we offer consistent, knowledgeable guidance based on their specific goals and objectives, clients view us as a valued business partner. This allows them to focus on the growth and success of their business, confident their legal issues will be handled by an attentive, responsive team.
Duane Morris LLP
Duane Morris LLP, a law firm with more than 700 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally, is asked by a broad array of clients to provide innovative solutions to today’s legal and business challenges.
Evolving from a partnership of prominent lawyers in Philadelphia a century ago, Duane Morris’ modern organization stretches from the U.S. to Europe and the Middle East, and now across Asia. Throughout this global expansion, Duane Morris has remained committed to preserving its collegial, collaborative culture that has attracted many talented attorneys. The firm’s leadership, and outside observers like the Harvard Business School, believe this culture is truly unique among large law firms, and helps account for the firm continuing to prosper throughout changing economic and industry conditions.
Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP
Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP is a litigation-focused law firm representing insurers, businesses, and self-insured entities across a broad range of matters, including insurance coverage, product liability, construction, employment, cyber, and general commercial litigation. The firm handles complex disputes through trial and appellate levels and serves as national coordinating counsel in high-exposure matters, with a practice built around risk management, liability defense, and litigation strategy.
Founded on a nontraditional legal services model, the firm emphasizes efficiency, cost predictability, and alignment with client objectives through alternative pricing, process-driven delivery, and integrated use of technology. Its structure combines attorneys, project managers, and legal operations support to streamline litigation and improve outcomes, positioning the firm as a modern alternative to the traditional billable-hour model.
Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP
Tannenbaum Helpern is a full-service commercial law firm known for setting the legal industry standard by combining exceptional legal skills, industry knowledge, and business experience to deliver high quality legal services in a practical and efficient manner. We are deeply familiar with the industries in which our clients operate, and the regulatory regimes with which they must comply.
Tannenbaum Helpern provides legal services in many areas of business law, including intellectual property; litigation and dispute resolution; employment law; financial services, private funds, and capital markets; cyber security and data privacy; real estate; construction and design law; general corporate and regulatory matters; franchising and distribution; estate planning; and tax.
Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP
Friedman Kaplan was founded in 1986 in the belief that a small group of talented and dedicated lawyers could offer the most sophisticated clients, facing the most difficult challenges, not only exceptional, creative, and tailored legal advice, but also a level of client service rarely seen in modern business.
O’Toole Scrivo, LLC
O’Toole Scrivo is one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing law firms — a mid-sized practice built around subject matter depth rather than headcount, designed to deliver large-firm expertise with direct partner access on complex, high-stakes matters.
Founded in 2017 by Kevin J. O’Toole and Thomas P. Scrivo, the firm draws on an uncommon combination of public sector authority and private sector precision. O’Toole served more than 20 years in the New Jersey Legislature before being appointed Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Scrivo served as Chief Counsel to Governor Chris Christie and as Chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. That institutional depth translates directly into strategic advantage for clients navigating intersecting legal, regulatory, and political risk.
The firm’s practice spans commercial litigation, labor and employment, white collar criminal defense and government investigations, regulatory and compliance, mass tort, product liability, environmental, corporate, and land use — across industries including financial services, healthcare, insurance, real estate, and construction.
O’Toole Scrivo operates on a straightforward conviction: that the most effective counsel combines institutional knowledge, creative problem-solving, and direct accountability to the client — particularly when the stakes are highest.
Proskauer Rose
Clients turn to Proskauer when a matter demands excellence and innovation. With 800+ lawyers in key financial centers around the world, we are known for the pragmatic and commercial approach we bring to a full spectrum of transactional and contentious practices.
We work seamlessly across practices, industries and jurisdictions with asset managers, private equity and venture capital firms, Fortune 500 and FTSE companies, major sports leagues, entertainment industry legends and other industry-redefining companies.
WilmerHale
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is a leading international law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers across 12 offices in the United States and Europe, recognized for legal excellence at the intersection of government, technology and business. The firm delivers world-class counsel across a full spectrum of practice areas — from complex litigation and appellate work to corporate transactions, intellectual property, regulatory enforcement and public policy — supporting clients in finance, life sciences, technology and other global industries. WilmerHale’s lawyers combine deep subject-matter expertise with entrepreneurial thinking to solve high-stakes legal challenges and advance clients’ strategic goals.
Founded through the merger of two historic practices, WilmerHale has played roles in landmark legal matters and continues to shape the profession with innovative service delivery, rigorous advocacy and a steadfast commitment to public service. The firm’s culture emphasizes inclusiveness, pro bono engagement, and collaborative problem-solving, and it has twice been named Best Law Firm of the Year by The American Lawyer. WilmerHale’s work has earned consistent recognition for exceptional client outcomes and contributions to the rule of law around the world.
Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP
Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP (KSLN) is a New York-based law firm providing litigation, employment, business counseling, risk management, and regulatory advisory services to organizations across a broad range of industries. The firm represents clients in complex disputes while also serving as trusted outside counsel on day-to-day legal and business matters.
Ansell Grimm & Aaron, PC
Founded in 1929, Ansell Grimm & Aaron is a full-service law firm with offices across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. For nearly a century, the firm has built its reputation on delivering high-quality outcomes for complex legal matters — combining deep regional relationships with a nimble, results-driven approach.
The firm’s Labor & Employment practice advises employers across industries on workforce compliance, employee classification, non-compete agreements, and dispute resolution. Their litigation and mediation capabilities round out a comprehensive service model for organizations navigating today’s rapidly shifting employment landscape.
Ansell’s attorneys bring the same philosophy to every matter: zealous advocacy, sound counsel, and an unwavering commitment to client outcomes.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. Our services include corporate law and governance, public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions, securities class action litigation, intellectual property litigation, antitrust counseling and litigation, joint ventures and strategic alliances, technology licensing and other intellectual property transactions, tax, and employee benefits and employment law, among other areas.
Spencer West
Spencer West is a full-service international law firm with a growing presence in the U.S. and more than 360 partners globally in over 25 jurisdictions. Known for its innovative, collaborative, and partner-led approach, Spencer West combines global reach with local expertise, delivering exceptional legal solutions across corporate, commercial, real estate, litigation, dispute resolution, and private client matters.
Akerman LLP
Akerman is a client-driven enterprise, recognized by Financial Times as among the most forward thinking law firms in the industry. They are known for their results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate, and other dynamic sectors.
They are ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States, with a reach that extends across the Americas and globally. Assembling a hand-crafted team for every client engagement, they leverage their more than 700 lawyers and business professionals across 24 offices.
Their inclusive culture impacts the way they see the world and deliver results. They are a perpetual insurgent, infusing startup agility with nearly a century of enterprise stability—and they try not to take themselves too seriously along the way.
McGuireWoods
McGuireWoods, one of the world’s leading law firms, has earned the loyalty of many longstanding clients with a deep understanding of their businesses, and broad skills in high-stakes disputes, complex regulatory and compliance matters, and corporate transactions. With 1,100 lawyers in 21 offices, the firm draws from a multitude of diverse experiences and perspectives to serve clients. Our commitment to excellence in everything we do gives our clients a competitive edge in everything they do.
Kennedys
Kennedys is a global litigation and dispute resolution firm. With over 3,000 people across 45 offices in 18 countries, our teams provide innovative and tailored legal solutions wherever our clients need us. We collaborate seamlessly across our global footprint in our practice areas of insurance, casualty defense, healthcare, and corporate & commercial in supporting a broad range of sectors. Our lawyers have deep experience in pre and post litigation support, coverage issues, dispute resolution, and advisory services. In FY 2025/26, Kennedys recorded a revenue of $615 million.
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman PC
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. is a full-service law firm with more than 100 attorneys across 10 offices in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Founded in 1962, the firm advises clients ranging from emerging companies to Fortune 500 organizations across corporate law, litigation, employment, intellectual property, data privacy, real estate, bankruptcy and restructuring, education, life sciences, and wealth preservation. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Porzio Governmental Affairs and Porzio Compliance Services, the firm also provides government relations, regulatory, compliance, and risk-management solutions.
Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
Boies Schiller Flexner is a firm of internationally recognized trial lawyers, crisis managers, and strategic advisers known for our creative, aggressive, and efficient pursuit of successful outcomes for our clients. We believe that teams with diverse viewpoints and perspectives are critical to providing creative solutions to the unique challenges of our global client base. We have a proven commitment to diversity and inclusion at the firm, in the legal profession, and in society as a whole.
Brown Rudnick
Brown Rudnick is an international full-service law firm with offices in key business centers in the United States and the United Kingdom. We provide legal services to clients across various industries such as artificial intelligence, technology, digital commerce, life sciences, and brand and reputation management. Our approach combines creativity with experience to achieve favorable outcomes for our clients in high-stakes litigation and complex business transactions. We prioritize partner-driven service, encourage collaboration among our lawyers in the best interest of the client, and prioritize excellence over scale. Our focus is on industry-specific, client-facing practices where we have established recognition. In all aspects of client relationships, we aim to bring the full strength of our firm to serve the comprehensive needs of our clients.
Margolis Edelstein
Margolis Edelstein is a regional litigation firm representing businesses, insurers, institutions, and individuals in complex disputes across a broad range of industries. Founded more than 65 years ago, the firm combines deep trial experience with practical, client-focused counsel and a commitment to efficient, results-driven representation. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Margolis Edelstein operates nine offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware and serves clients across the region, including West Virginia. The firm is also a founding member of The Harmonie Group, an international network of independent law firms.
Morgan Lewis
At Morgan Lewis, we work in collaboration. We work around the clock and around the world—always ready, always on—to respond to the needs of our clients and craft powerful solutions for them. From our 29 offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, we work with clients ranging from established, global Fortune 100 companies to enterprising startups.
We provide comprehensive litigation, corporate, finance, restructuring, employment and benefits, and intellectual property services in all major industries, helping clients address and anticipate challenges across vast and rapidly changing landscapes. And we approach every representation with an equal commitment to first understanding, and then efficiently and effectively advancing, the interests of our clients and arriving at the best results.
Our team encompasses more than 2,000 legal professionals, including lawyers, patent agents, employee benefits advisers, regulatory scientists, and other specialists. If a client has a question, we’ll immediately find the person in our global network with the answer. If there’s a shift in the legal landscape, we’re on top of it, and our clients will be too.
We focus on both immediate and long-term goals with our clients, harnessing our resources from strategic hubs of commerce, law, and government across North America and in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. You’ll find us everywhere from New York to Dubai, San Francisco to Beijing, and London to Washington.
Founded in 1873, we stand on the shoulders of more than 140 years of achievement, but we never rest on our reputation.
Resnick & Louis, P.C.
Resnick & Louis, P.C. is a national, mid-sized law firm focused on insurance and institutional defense, with more than 200 attorneys serving clients across the United States. The firm represents insurers, businesses and other organizations in complex litigation, risk management and advisory matters.
Its attorneys have experience across a broad range of practices, including insurance defense and coverage, commercial litigation, construction defect, employment law, professional liability, transportation and trucking, workers’ compensation, hospitality and retail defense, and business and corporate law. Resnick & Louis combines the resources and geographic reach of a national practice with an emphasis on responsive, personalized client service and practical, results-driven representation.