An Overview of the Business Law Curriculum
The Richmond Law & Business Forum is highlighting course offerings related to business law. In this post, Professor Erickson offers advice on navigating the business law curriculum.
Richmond Law & Business Forum
Our signature events are our Business Law over Dinner or Lunch series, where 2–3 lawyers in a specific practice area meet with 6–10 students interested in this practice area. These dinners and lunches allow informal conversation about business law and the practice of law more generally. We will have multiple dinners and lunches throughout the semester with lawyers who practice in specific areas of business law. This fall, the dinners will focus on real estate law (Wednesday, October 9), in-house practice (Thursday, October 17), and business litigation (Thursday, November 14). We will also have a lunch focused on in-house practice on Wednesday, October 16. These dinners and lunches are among our most popular events, and spots are extremely limited. Students can express interest in one of these spots by registering by September 25. We will randomly select the students who can attend from those who register. Only Forum members are eligible to attend, and the Forum covers the full cost of the events.
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September 2024
Introductory Meeting
Wednesday, September 11 at noon in Room 101
Professor Jessica Erickson will introduce the Richmond Law & Business Forum, describe this year’s events, and explain how students can join. Lunch will be served.
Elon Musk v. Delaware
Monday, September 23 at noon in Room 101
Why does Elon Musk hate Delaware? This event will explore Musk’s litigation battles in Delaware, why Tesla recently left the state in favor of Texas, and what this fight might tell us about the future of corporate law. We will be joined by Steven Haas, co-head of the Mergers & Acquisitions practice at Hunton Andrews Kurth, and Ian McDowell, a litigator at the Rosen Law Firm who regularly represents investors. This event is sponsored by the Richmond Law & Business Forum, and lunch will be served.
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October 2024
The Start-Up Ecosystem in Richmond
Wednesday, October 9 at noon in Room 101
How can lawyers help start-up businesses? At this event, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing new businesses in our area and how lawyers can help these businesses get off the ground. We will feature three business leaders who regularly work with start-up businesses in the Richmond area: Ted Chandler, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of NRV, which invests in and advises early-stage high growth companies; Noelle James, the Managing Director of StartUp Virginia, which is a nonprofit high-growth business incubator and entrepreneurial hub; and Iris Woodson, the Executive Director of Bizworks, which helps smaller businesses get off the ground in Chesterfield. This event is sponsored by the Richmond Law & Business Forum, and lunch will be served.
Life as an In-House Counsel
Wednesday, October 16 at noon in Room 128
At this event, Joseph Saab will talk about his experiences as General Counsel at International Paper, a Fortune 500 company with nearly 40,000 employees. Mr. Saab oversees the legal department at International Paper, and he has previously held in-house roles focused on environmental law, global governance, and compliance, so he has had broad responsibilities for legal operations within a large, public corporation. He will talk about the role of in-house counsel, as well as the challenges and opportunities of this career path. This event is sponsored by the Richmond Law & Business Forum, and lunch will be served.
Business 101: How to Read Your Clients’ Financial Statements
Thursday, October 17 at Noon in Room 172
Have you heard the term "balance sheet," but you don’t really know what it means? If someone handed you an income statement, could you tell if the company is making any money? Business lawyers don’t need to be financial experts, but they do need to know the basics of fundamental business concepts. In this one-hour workshop, Stefan Piotrowski from Paladin Management in Chicago will teach you how to read a balance sheet and income statement. Mr. Piotrowski has a unique background working in financial and operational restructuring, and he has worked with many lawyers in this role, so he knows the skills you will need in your future jobs. This event is sponsored by the Richmond Law & Business Forum, and lunch will be served.
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November 2024
Corporate Law over Cookies
Thursday, November 7 at noon in Room L171
This event is an opportunity for students interested in business law to get to know each other and the faculty in this area. Bring a brown bag lunch, and the Richmond Law & Business Forum will provide cookies from Insomnia Cookies. There’s no agenda; it’s just an opportunity for informal conversation and connection.
Demystifying Careers in Business Law
Thursday, November 14 at noon. in the Moot Courtroom
Does a career in business law sound vaguely interesting, but you’re not entirely sure what it involves? At this event, the Richmond Law & Business Forum and CDO will come together to demystify career options in business law. We will introduce students to different types of business law careers and offer tips for pursuing job opportunities in this practice area. Chick-fil-A nuggets and wraps will be served.
