The
General Counsel Institute (“GCI”) is a 2.5-day program of networking, education, and inspiration designed for senior in-house counsel. Sessions with the general counsel of major corporations and other inspirational speakers foster frank, collegial discussions about career advancement. Workshops on key topics with leading experts provide opportunities to refine skills.
With
in-house counsel comprising over 70% of the audience, GCI creates a unique environment to connect with other in-house counsel, share the highs and lows of in-house life, and build legal and leadership skills.
2026 General Counsel Institute
The Future-Ready Leader
Wednesday, October 14 - Friday, October 16, 2026
InterContinental New York Barclay
111 East 48th Street
New York, NY
The early bird discount ends September 14.
Destination
InterContinental New York Barclay
111 East 48th Street
New York, NY 10017
RECOMMENDED ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES
We recommend arriving Wednesday, October 14, in time to get settled before the Welcome Reception at 6:30 pm.
We encourage you to stay through the Closing Reception on Friday, October 16, which ends at 4:00 pm. Departing Friday evening or Saturday morning works well.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Book your room at this link before September 23 for our special rate.
Please be aware of scammers claiming to offer a better rate at the conference property. Remember to never follow a link or answer any questions if you are contacted by anyone other than NAWL. Please report any scams to nawl@nawl.org.
DISCOUNTED FLIGHTS
We partnered with United Airlines to offer discounted rates for flights to GCI. Additional information will be provided in your registration confirmation email.
Our Sponsors
Premier - Faegre Drinker
Premier - Foley & Lardner LLP
Premier - Greenberg Traurig
Premier - Microsoft
Premier - Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
Premier - White & Case LLP
Rainmaker - Ankura
Rainmaker - Ashurst Perkins Coie
Rainmaker - Crowell & Moring LLP
Rainmaker - GC AI
Rainmaker - Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Rainmaker - Intel
Rainmaker - Jackson Lewis P.C.
Rainmaker - McDermott Will & Schulte
Rainmaker - Seyfarth Shaw
Rainmaker - USAA
Career Lounge Sponsor - ShorePoint Advisory Group
Power-Up - DWT
Power-Up - Redgrave LLP
Power-Up - Wiley Rein
Associate - American Arbitration Association
Associate - Anderson Kill P.C.
Associate - Carmen Contreras-Martinez
Associate - Fisher & Phillips LLP
Associate - JAMS
Associate - Kutak Rock LLP
Associate - Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
Associate - Saul Ewing LLP
Ally - AT&T
Interested in Sponsoring?
The General Counsel Institute (GCI) offers a comprehensive program dedicated to in-house counsel to enhance their legal and leadership skills. GCI Sponsors can heighten their brand's visibility through numerous networking and business development opportunities with this exclusive audience.
Our Presenting and Rainmaker sponsors have an exclusive opportunity to showcase their organization's expertise by leading engaging plenary and workshop sessions on vital topics that elevate participants' skills and knowledge.
Click here to see a sample of the firms and companies represented at our recent conferences.
Contact
Stefanie Skaggs, Development Director.
Partnering Organizations
Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, Inc.
American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago
Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance
Association for Women Lawyers
Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago
Burmese American Lawyers Association
The Center for Women in Law
Chicago Bar Association
Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms
Chinese American Bar Association
Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law
Decalogue Society of Lawyers
DuPage County Bar Association
Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago
Harvard Law School Association Women's Alliance
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
Illinois State Bar Association
Japanese American Bar Association
Just The Beginning - A Pipeline Organization
Kane County Bar Association
LAGBAC – Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association
Minnesota Women Lawyers
National Association of Cambodian American Lawyers
National Association of Women Judges
National Conference of Women's Bar Associations
National Filipino American Lawyers Association
National Trans Bar Association
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys
Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition
The Sisters in Law
Sikh National Bar Association
South Carolina Women Lawyers Association
Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
Will County Bar Association
The Women in Law Initiative
Women's Bar Association of Illinois
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
Wednesday
Oct. 14
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm ET
Welcome Reception
Kick off GCI at the Welcome Reception designed to spark meaningful connections among in-house counsel. This later-than-usual reception features a curated selection of heavy hors d'oeuvres which could double as a light dinner, allowing you to unwind, mingle, and build the community that will enrich the days ahead. Come hungry for good food, great company, and the start of something collaborative. We encourage you to wear NAWL colors: purple, white, and/or gold.
Thursday
Oct. 15
8:00 am - 9:00 am ET
Sponsor:
Registration and Breakfast Reception
Grab your name badge and fuel up with a grab-and-go breakfast.
Career Lounge
Bring your breakfast to the Career Lounge designed for meaningful conversation to start your day. Explore to-be-announced career-focused topics in an interactive setting, connect with peers, and engage directly with experts in a relaxed setting that encourages dialogue, networking, and shared learning.
Thursday
Oct. 15
9:00 am - 10:00 am ET
Sponsor:
Opening Mainstage Session
Beyond Oversight: How Directors and General Counsel Build High‑Trust, High‑Impact Partnerships
In today’s increasingly complex governance landscape, the relationship between the board and the General Counsel has never been more critical.
This opening mainstage session brings together seasoned public company directors for an unscripted conversation about what they truly need from their GCs—and what they believe GCs need from them. From navigating risk and crisis to shaping corporate strategy and culture, we'll explore the hallmarks of a high‑functioning board–GC partnership, the signals that build trust, and the moments that test it.
Hear candid insights on elevating influence in the boardroom and driving better governance outcomes together.
Former CEO and Current Public Company Director
Co-Head, Global M&A Practice, White & Case LLP
Board Director, BEACH HOUSE GROUP, Red Robin and Columbia Bank
Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair, Valvoline and TWFG
Thursday
Oct. 15
10:00 am - 10:15 am ET
Networking Break
Pause, breathe, and recharge. This 15-minute meditation break provides a welcoming space to slow down, practice mindfulness, and experience a moment of calm amid a busy conference schedule. Or if your energy is still high, visit the Power Up area for coffee, snacks, and pop-up shops.
Thursday
Oct. 15
10:15 am - 11:15 am ET
Sponsor:
Mainstage Session
AI in Action: How Legal Departments Are Driving Innovation While Managing Risk
Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption is moving from experimentation to embedded practice—and corporate legal departments are leading the shift. This program offers a candid, real-world look at how General Counsel and their teams are putting AI to work today to improve efficiency, strengthen business alignment, and unlock new ways of delivering legal services.
Panelists will move beyond theory to share specific, practical use cases—from streamlining internal workflows and enhancing reporting to supporting more effective cross-functional collaboration and decision-making. Attendees will gain insight into what is working, what has been surprisingly effective, and where early efforts have fallen short.
The discussion will also address the challenges legal leaders are actively managing, including mitigating regulatory and operational risk, ensuring accuracy and accountability in AI-driven outputs, and developing governance frameworks that reflect organizational values. Panelists will share how they are navigating these issues in real time and the lessons learned along the way.
Designed for immediate application, this session equips legal leaders with actionable strategies, grounded examples, and a clearer path to leveraging AI responsibly while driving meaningful innovation within their organizations.
Partner, Faegre Drinker
Kate Bruce
Group General Counsel, Regulatory Compliance & Litigation, Worley
Sarrie Devore
Vice President, Employment Law, Albertsons
Thursday
Oct. 15
11:15 am - 11:45 am ET
Networking Break
Join fellow attendees for an engaging, hands-on service project assembling menstrual hygiene kits for girls served by Covenant House. As you network and build new professional relationships, you'll also help provide essential resources that support dignity, health, and well-being for young people in need. Together, we can make a lasting impact both within our profession and in the community.
Thursday
Oct. 15
11:45 am - 12:45 pm ET
Concurrent Workshops
Sponsor:
Sponsor:
AI Idea Exchange: Highly Interactive, Roundtable Discussions
Generative AI can accelerate drafting, research, and content creation – how are you and your teams using AI to create efficiencies in your everyday life and work while avoiding risks? This interactive discussion will give participants the opportunity to share ideas on the use of AI and how to navigate challenges it presents.
Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte
Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte
Sponsor:
The New Fraud and Cyber Risk Landscape: Legal Risks, Emerging Threats, and Practical Solutions
As threat actors leverage new technologies and increasingly sophisticated tactics, the legal implications of cybersecurity incidents and fraud continue to expand. Today's in-house counsel must navigate a complex landscape that touches virtually every area of corporate legal practice. This program will explore current and emerging cyber and fraud risks facing organizations, as well as the evolving responsibilities of legal departments in managing those risks. Panelists will address key issues involving privacy, employment, corporate governance, fiduciary duties, cyber insurance, regulatory compliance, and incident response, offering practical perspectives on how organizations can build resilience in an increasingly challenging environment.
Thursday
Oct. 15
12:45 pm - 3:00 pm ET
Sponsor:
Lunch and Mainstage Session
To foster an inclusive environment and encourage new connections, there will be open seating at the tables in the ballroom for lunch.
The General Counsel’s Role in Transformative M&A
Transformative M&A puts legal leaders at the center of some of an organization’s most consequential decisions. Beyond managing legal risk, senior in-house counsel must help shape strategy, advise boards and executive teams, navigate competing stakeholder interests, and exercise judgment when the path forward is anything but clear. This panel will bring together experienced legal leaders to discuss how they influence strategy and decision-making throughout the deal lifecycle-from evaluating opportunities and pressure-testing risk to navigating board dynamics, execution challenges, and pivotal moments when the stakes are highest. Attendees will hear practical perspectives on the judgment, credibility, and leadership required to help guide an organization through a defining transaction.
Cheree McAlpine
Chief Legal Officer, Zoom
Co-Chair, Global Finance Practice, Greenberg Traurig LLP
Thursday
Oct. 15
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Concurrent Workshops
Sponsor:
Sponsor:
Freeing Yourself Up for More Strategic Work
Beyond the headlines and hype, how can legal teams use AI to reduce time spent on repetitive work and create more space for strategic thinking and business partnership? In this session, GC AI attorneys and company leadership, including the COO, will discuss how legal professionals are putting AI to work in real-world legal workflows and what they've learned from helping teams integrate these tools into their practice. Through practical examples and use cases, the conversation will explore where AI is demonstrating value today. Speakers will share lessons learned about identifying the right use cases, balancing efficiency with accuracy and professional judgment, and establishing governance practices that support responsible adoption. Rather than focusing on technology for technology's sake, the discussion will examine how AI can help legal departments shift attention away from administrative and repetitive tasks toward higher-value work. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where AI can realistically support legal work today, where human expertise remains essential, and how to evaluate opportunities within their own organizations.
Sponsor:
When the Answers Aren’t Always Clear: A Peer-to-Peer Ethics Workshop for In-House Counsel
This interactive ethics session uses an evolving hypothetical, peer-to-peer discussion groups, and a dose of healthy competition as teams explore the ethical obligations, practical considerations, and judgment calls that you face in your daily role. You’ll work in small roundtable groups as you debate judgment calls and decision points that don’t always have clean answers.
Mary Costigan
Principal, Jackson Lewis PC
Thursday
Oct. 15
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm ET
Networking Break
Leadership requires resilience. Join us for a brief guided mindfulness session designed to help you clear mental clutter, restore focus, and cultivate the calm presence that supports effective decision-making and leadership. Or visit the Power-Up Area to explore women-owned pop-up shops and grab a quick bite.
Thursday
Oct. 15
4:15 pm - 5:15 pm ET
Sponsor:
Mainstage Session
Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the cybersecurity threat landscape, organizations face increasingly complex challenges. This panel explores how to identify and address AI-driven breach risks and other emerging threats, while providing actionable guidance and practical strategies for responding effectively—equipping attendees with the tools they need to protect their organizations before and during a cyber incident.
General Counsel, Venerable Investment Advisers
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Administration Officer & Corporate Secretary, Unisys
Chief Legal Officer, Sophos
Thursday
Oct. 15
7:00 - 9:30 pm ET
Limited Availability Add-On:
& Juliet Broadway Musical Ticket
Through our group rate, purchase a discounted ticket to attend & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, just an 18-minute walk from the InterContinental.
& Juliet is the hilarious hit musical that flips the script on the greatest love story ever told... because it didn’t end so great. What if Juliet got a second chance at life after Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous new journey that comes alive through larger-than-life laughs and all the pop songs you know by heart—in ways you’ll never imagine.
After you register, you'll get the link to purchase a ticket in your confirmation email.
Friday
Oct. 16
8:00 am - 8:45 am ET
Bollywood Dance Class
Led by Host Committee member Ayushi Rajpurohit, step into the vibrant world of Bollywood with this lively dance class designed to add a burst of energy to the final day of GCI!
Perfect for all skill levels, this class will have you moving to the music, learning fun choreography, and connecting with fellow attendees.
Friday
Oct. 16
9:00 am - 10:00 am ET
Breakfast Reception
Fuel up on coffee and breakfast, and connect before the sessions start.
Career Lounge: Reinvention, Risk & the Future of Your Career
One leader is starting a new chapter as a first-time General Counsel. The other chose to leave a long-tenured GC role behind to pursue a completely different dream: becoming a novelist. Over breakfast, join this honest conversation about career crossroads, taking calculated risks, recognizing when it's time for a change, and building a career that evolves with you. Whether you're considering a pivot of your own or simply wondering what comes next, this interactive Career Lounge session will offer fresh perspectives and plenty of time for audience questions. Bonus: attendees will receive a copy of Sonny's book, The Daughters of Rosebud, courtesy of White & Case.
Sonny Buttar
Author, The Daughters of Rosebud and former public company General Counsel
Friday
Oct. 16
10:00 am - 11:15 am ET
Career-Level Sessions
Tailor your conference experience to your career stage and professional goals. Whether you're preparing for greater leadership responsibilities, building the capabilities needed to become a General Counsel, or already serving as the top legal executive in your organization, you'll have the opportunity to join a conversation that delivers the most value for where you are today.
Sponsor:
C-Suite Connect
Reserved exclusively for attorneys who currently hold the role of General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer, offering a private space to share insights and engage with peers.
Vice President of Legal and People Operations, Taara
Founder, Women's General Counsel Network (WGCN)
Facilitator
Legal Skills that Drive Business Success
Designed for attorneys developing the practical and strategic skills essential for a future General Counsel role.
Head of Legal, Global Lending for Commercial & Investment Banking, JP Morgan Chase
Sponsor:
Leading with Confidence: Developing Executive Readiness
Designed for attorneys ready to strengthen their leadership presence and prepare for executive-level responsibilities.
Waqas Durrani
SVP, General Counsel – Corporate Functions, USAA
Latrice Lee
Executive Director Attorney, HR, USAA
Friday
Oct. 16
11:15 am - 11:30 am ET
Networking Break
Well-being starts with making space to pause. Through gentle guided meditation and quiet reflection, this break offers an opportunity to reduce stress, enhance clarity, and support your overall wellness. Or visit the Power Up area for recharging by connecting with others.
Friday
Oct. 16
11:30 am - 12:30 pm ET
Concurrent Workshops
Sponsor:
The New Legal Toolkit: Advising Business in the Age of Rapid Technological Change and an Evolving Regulatory Landscape
Explore what it takes to become an indispensable legal advisor to businesses operating across borders amid rapid technological change and evolving regulatory risk driven by AI. Hear how leading in-house and outside counsel combine legal judgment, business insight, technology fluency, and trusted relationships to meet the expectations of the next decade.
Judy Jennison
Partner, Ashurst Perkins Coie
Moderator
Heather Karell
Partner, Ashurst Perkins Coie
Mary Huang
Senior Corporate Counsel, Microsoft
Maha Jafarey
Senior Corporate Counsel, Microsoft
Sponsor:
Taking the Seat: Reflections on your First Year as General Counsel
The move into the General Counsel role is often visible and high-stakes. This panel brings together GCs to talk candidly about the transition into the role of GC, what they inherited, what they had to build, and where they focused first. Together, they will share how they approached leadership, decision-making, and influence in the earliest days of the role and how that has evolved for them since.
La-Toya Hackney
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Saint-Gobain North America
General Counsel, Kering
General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Accenture Federal Services
Sponsor:
Pixels, Consent, and Privacy Risk: Navigating an Evolving Litigation Landscape
As regulators and plaintiffs' firms intensify their focus on website and app data collection practices, organizations face growing exposure from tracking technologies, consent management, and digital property governance. What were once standard marketing and analytics tools are now the subject of increasing enforcement actions and class action litigation. This panel will examine emerging privacy risks and litigation trends involving pixels, cookies, session replay tools, and other tracking technologies. Panelists will discuss the evolving concept of consent under U.S. and global privacy laws, practical approaches to compliance and remediation, and the intersection of technical evidence, data governance, and legal strategy. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to help mitigate regulatory and litigation risk in one of the most active areas of privacy law today.
Deborah Rimmler
Senior Managing Director, Ankura
Nicole Nguyen
Senior Director, Ankura
Sonya Kwon
Senior Managing Director, Ankura
Friday
Oct. 16
12:30 pm - 2:15 pm ET
Sponsor:
Lunch and Mainstage Session
Leading through the Age of AI: Innovation, Judgement, and the Next Era of the GC
As Corporate Vice President and General Counsel for the Microsoft Technology and Services Group, Teresa Hutson is helping to reinvent the legal function from the inside out—putting Microsoft artificial intelligence (AI) technology to work on its own legal team as "customer zero."
In this fireside chat, she shares what that's teaching her about where the profession is heading: how AI is reshaping the everyday work of lawyers, from client intake to contracting; why judgment, issue-spotting, and systems thinking matter more in an AI-enabled department, not less; and what it takes to develop the next generation of lawyers as curious generalists and builders rather than narrow specialists. We'll open with a brief introduction and close with audience Q&A over lunch.
Join us for a candid look at future-ready legal leadership from someone actively building it.
To foster an inclusive environment and encourage new connections, there will be open seating at the tables in the ballroom for lunch.
Corporate Vice President and General Counsel, Technology and Services, Microsoft
Associate General Counsel, Microsoft
Friday
Oct. 16
2:15 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Closing Reception
Before we trade name badges for email threads, join us for one last gathering to reflect, recharge, and look ahead. Reflect on the highlights and squeeze in those last few conversations you meant to have. With bites, beverages, and a relaxed atmosphere, we’ll celebrate the community we’ve built and the ideas we’re taking home. Whether you're heading out inspired, exhausted, or a little of both—let’s end on a high note, together.
The General Counsel Institute program is open to registered attendees only.
Registration
| Registration Types | By September 14 | After September 14 |
|---|---|---|
| In-House NAWL Member / Sponsor | $900 | $1,000 |
| In-House Non-Member | $1,100 | $1,200 |
| Non-Profit / Government Attorney | $750 | $750 |
| Law Firm Attorney | $4,000 | $4,000 |
Ticket includes a heavy hors d'oeuvres reception on Wednesday, breakfast and lunch on Thursday with an optional late night reception, and breakfast and lunch on Friday. Beverages and snacks are included between meals on Thursday and Friday.
Member and Non-Member registration types are limited to in-house counsel or event sponsors. The only option for law firm attorneys not with a sponsor is the Law Firm Attorney registration type.
Complimentary unemployed attorney registrations are available. Please apply for a scholarship as indicated in the FAQs section.
Need help making the case to your employer?
The General Counsel Institute is ideal for:
- Senior in-house counsel seeking opportunities to collaborate with peers and strengthen leadership capabilities.
- Corporate counsel ready to enhance essential skills and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving legal and business landscape.
- Mid-career and early-career in-house attorneys who value candid, collegial conversations about career growth and advancement.
- Outside counsel, through sponsorship or a law firm registration,
looking for an opportunity to engage with senior in-house counsel and cultivate meaningful professional relationships.
Leadership Team
Kari Sheinfeld
Head of Legal, Global Lending for Commercial & Investment Banking,
JPMorgan Chase
Chair
Ayushi Rajpurohit
Corporate Counsel, NA Stores,
Amazon
Vice Chair
Ghillaine Reid
Partner,
Troutman Pepper Locke
Board Liaison
Karen Abravanel
UJA-Federation of New York
Workshop Vice Chair
Raina Baah
Howard University School of Law
Trina Bailey
USAA
Elizabeth Borges
Intel Corporation
Francesca Cellese
USAA
Jennifer Chiarella
Valitana
Kathleen Cindric
PHINIA Inc.
Batibut Cuyugan
The Global Fund for a New Economy
Diedre Dunn
Mindr Co
Rachel Freyman
MultiCare Health System
Dana Gilland
Nest Egg Foundation, Inc.
Katherine Gnadinger
Zoom
Plenary Vice Chair
Sylvia-Rebecca Gutiérrez
Stevens Institute of Technology
Erica Jenkins
Armed Forces Benefit Association
Tammi Kenton
Microsoft
Tania Koles
Microsoft
Cristal Lambert
ETS
Anna Lozoya
Physician Alliance Group, P.C.
Linda Lu
ZIP Co.
Rosanna Mah
HSBC Bank USA, NA
Dawn Mascoll
Alliance Technology Group
Jade Munoz Eguiluz
University of Nevada, Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law
Ashley Nelson
Amazon
Engagement Chair
Susan Ombrellaro
Microsoft
McCray Pettway
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.
Ashley Presley
Titan America
Olivia Riley
Northern Illinois University
Gail Rodgers
US Anesthesia Partners
Edda Santiago
Covenant House International
Ora Sheinson
Jade Moutain Partners
Amy Shepherd
Alarm.com
Kirsten Silwanowicz
Detroit Housing Commission
Brande Smith
Nationwide
Workshop Chair
Heather Suchobrus
Microsoft
Sheea Sybblis
Sponsorship Chair
Donaldine Temple
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Engagement Vice Chair
Camilla Titterington
Microsoft
Meg Vernal
Voyager Technologies
Joycelynn Watkins-Asiyanbi
Danielle Williams
Progressive Insurance
Felicia Yen
SentinelOne, Inc.
