Richmond Law & Business Forum

Big Tech Goes Public
Thursday, Sept. 24 | Noon, Room 102

After years in which many of the world’s most valuable technology companies remained private, the public markets are once again becoming central to the story of big tech. SpaceX went public this spring in the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history, and OpenAI and Anthropic have both announced their intent to go public in the coming months. Why are major technology companies going public now? And what does this new wave of technology IPOs mean for how these companies are built, financed, and governed? Join Hillary Holmes, the lawyer who led the legal team on SpaceX’s historic IPO, and Mark Ballantyne, a lawyer and Richmond Law alum who advises IPO-ready and publicly traded technology companies, for a behind-the-scenes look at taking a major technology company public. This event is jointly sponsored with the Intellectual Property & Technology Forum.

Business Law Over Dinner | Mergers & Acquisitions (Host: Doug Boyle)
Thursday, Oct. 1 | 6:30 p.m.

Student Organizers: March Sousa, Caroline Ping

Business Law Over Dinner | Environmental Law (Host: Danielle Stokes)
Thursday, Oct. 1 | 6:30 p.m.

Student Organizer: Caroline Senter

What Do Business Lawyers Do?
Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Noon, Room 102

Student Organizers: Brian Barrett, Lexi Sipos

Business law encompasses a remarkably broad range of practices, including transactional work, litigation, real estate, tax, intellectual property, securities, and in-house counsel. Yet for many students, it’s difficult to know what lawyers in these fields actually do on a day-to-day basis. At this event, four business lawyers from different practice areas will discuss the work they do, the types of problems they solve, and the paths that led them to their careers. Whether you’re considering a career in business law or simply exploring your options, this program offers an inside look at the many ways lawyers help businesses succeed.

Business Law Over Dinner | Labor & Employment (Host: Jessica Erickson)
Tuesday, Oct. 20 | 6:30 p.m.

Student Organizers: Annie Williamson, Leena Bouchenni

Building Your Brand as a Business Lawyer
Wednesday, Oct. 21 | Noon, Room 101

Student Organizers: Lily Goodman, Caroline Ping

How do young lawyers build their reputation in the legal profession? Three practicing business lawyers will share how they developed their brands after law school—from speaking and publishing to joining bar associations, cultivating mentor networks, and building a presence on social media. They will offer candid insight into how students can start building visibility and credibility in the early years of their careers.

Business Law Over Dinner | Business Litigation (Host: Jessica Erickson)
Monday, Oct. 26 | 6:30 p.m.

Student Organizers: Jessica Loveluck, Rosemary Faircloth, Brian Barrett

Business Law Over Dinner | Law Firm Leadership & the Business of Law (Host: Jacob Rooksby)
Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 6:30 p.m.

Holding Powerful Institutions Accountable: Insights from a Plaintiffs’ Lawyer
Monday, Nov. 2 | Noon, Room 102

Some of the most significant changes in corporate and government behavior begin not in a legislature or regulatory agency, but in a courtroom. Through civil litigation, plaintiffs’ lawyers can expose wrongdoing, compensate victims, and reshape institutional practices long after the underlying events have faded from the headlines. At this event, Dean Jacob Rooksby and nationally recognized plaintiffs’ lawyer Josh Conaway will discuss how these cases are built, the challenges of litigating against powerful institutions, and what these cases reveal about the power—and limits—of the civil justice system.

Behind the Deal
Wednesday, Nov. 4 | Noon, Room 102

Student Organizer: March Sousa

“Tell me about your interest in transactional work” is a common interview question—and a hard one to answer if you’ve never seen how a deal comes together. At this event,  experienced practitioners will walk through what actually happens in an acquisition, from initial negotiations to financing, due diligence, and closing. If you want to figure out whether transactional law is for you and be able to speak about it confidently in interviews, this event is a great place to start.

Business Law Over Dinner | In-House Counsel (Host: Jessica Erickson)
Thursday, Nov. 5 | 6:30 p.m.

Student Organizer: Kaj Patel

Exploring the Role of In-House Counsel
Monday, Nov. 9 | Noon, Room 102

Student Organizers: Sloane Austin, Kaj Patel

Not every business lawyer works at a law firm. A growing number work inside the legal departments of the companies they advise, and this path is among the most coveted in business law. At this event, held in partnership with the Virginia State Bar’s Corporate Counsel Section, several in-house lawyers will share their career paths, describe what the work is really like, and offer advice for students hoping to land these roles down the road.

Student Mentoring Program

Student Organizers: Khadijah Davis, Caroline Burge, Annie Williamson

The Law & Business Forum’s mentoring program connects students with upper-level mentors while creating additional opportunities for Forum members to get to know one another and the business law faculty. Throughout the year, the mentoring team will organize mentoring matches and several informal social events.

Business Law Over Dinner Events 

We will have multiple dinners and lunches this year with lawyers who practice in specific areas of business law.  In the fall, the dinners will focus on transactional law, labor & employment, the role of in-house counsel, intellectual property, commercial real estate/environmental law, and business litigation. Spots at these dinners are limited, and sign-ups are open through September 18.

Click here to sign up