Past Board Members and Events

Past Board Members

Past Events

  • Fall 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.

     

    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.

     

    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.

  • Spring 2023

    Life as an In-House Counsel
    Monday, January 23, 12-1 p.m. in Room L171
    At this event, Edward Rockwell will talk about his experiences as General Counsel at EPAM Systems, a Fortune 1000 technology company with nearly 60,000 employees.  Mr. Rockwell oversees the legal department at EPAM Systems, and he has previously worked in-house at a number of other technology companies. He will talk about the role of in-house counsel, as well as the challenges and opportunities of this career path.  Chick-fil-A will be served.

    Business Law over Dinner: Employment Law
    Monday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m.
    This dinner will focus on an employment law practice. It will feature three lawyers who specialize in this area, along with several students interested in this area. Spots at this event are limited. 

    Informational Session on the JD/MBA Dual Degree Program
    Wednesday, February 8, from 12-1 p.m. in L171
    This session will discuss the University of Richmond’s joint JD/MBA program, including the admissions process, degree requirements, and the overall experience.  We will be joined by Dean Rich Boulger from the Robins School of Business and Dean Kristen Osenga from the law school.  Lunch will be served.

    Business Law over Dinner: Law & Finance
    Thursday, February 16 at 6:30 p.m.
    This dinner will focus on a finance and securities practice in the law. It will feature three lawyers who specialize in this area, along with several students interested in this area. Spots at this event are limited. 

    The Lifecycle of a Dirt Deal
    Wednesday, February 22, 6-8 p.m.
    This panel event, co-sponsored with the Real Estate Law Society, will expose law students to the various business and legal professionals involved in a commercial real estate transaction. During the event, panelists will utilize a case study to simulate the lifecycle of a commercial real estate transaction. Panelists will include a title attorney, zoning representative, real estate developer, finance and real estate attorney, and an academic representative. Dinner is included.

    Career Conversations in Business Law
    Wednesday, March 1 from 5-7 p.m., Jepson Alumni Center
    At this event, students will have the opportunity to meet and network with lawyers from a variety of business law practices. The first hour of the event will be small group discussions with individual lawyers about their career paths and day-to-day practices.  The second hour will be a catered reception where lawyers and students can talk more informally.  Participation will be capped at 30 students to allow for discussion.

    Business Law over Dinner: Mergers & Acquisitions
    Thursday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m.
    This dinner will focus on a mergers and acquisitions practice. It will feature three lawyers who specialize in this area, along with several students interested in this area. Spots at this event are limited. 

    Business Law Snapshots: Employment Law
    Thursday, March 16, at noon in Room 101
    Do you wish you could learn about employment law even if you haven’t yet had an opportunity to take an employment law course?  This event is part of our Snapshots series, which are hour-long presentations providing an overview of a specific area of business law so you can go into your summer job or career with this knowledge.  In this Snapshots session, Professor Luke Norris will discuss the basics of employment law.  If you haven’t had a chance to take an employment law class, or if you took one but want a refresher, come and learn with Professor Norris!  Lunch will be served.

    Navigating the Business Law Curriculum
    Monday, March 20 at noon in Room ___
    At this event, Professor Jessica Erickson will provide an overview of the business law course offerings, discuss the pathways through the curriculum, and answer student questions.  Lunch will be served.

    Business Law over Dinner: In-House Counsel
    Wednesday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m.
    These two dinners will focus on in-house practice. Each dinner will feature three lawyers who work inside the legal departments of corporations, along with several students interested in this practice setting. Spots at this event are limited.

    Into the World of Practice:  Advice from Recent Graduates on Entering a Business Law Practice
    Tuesday, April 11, at noon
    Are you joining a business law practice after graduation, or do you hope to do so?  This lunch will feature a candid discussion with recent graduates of Richmond Law who are now working in a business law practice.  We will discuss what they have learned, what they wish they had known when they started, and the advice they have for students planning to work in this area.  Spots at this event are limited.  Please contact Professor Jessica Erickson if you are interested in attending.

  • Spring 2022

    The Games at GameStop, Tuesday, February 2 at noon

    The wild ride of GameStop stock has been all over the news. At this event we discussed what exactly happened at GameStop, why Reddit users and hedge managers were feuding, and what the law had to say about it. Speakers included Linda Lin (Assistant Professor of Law), Kurt Wolfe (Attorney with Troutman Pepper), and Jessica Erickson (Professor of Law). 

    Richmond’s Start-Up Community, Thursday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m.

    In this event, local attorneys and business leaders will discuss Richmond’s growing start-up community.  The conversation will focus on how our local region supports entrepreneurs who are building new businesses. Speakers includes Ashley Dobbs (Director of Intellectual Property and Transactional Law Clinic at Richmond Law), Noelle James (Director of Startup Growth at StartUp Virginia), Mike McCollum (Partner at Kaleo Legal), and Erin Powell (Executive Director of Lighthouse Labs).

    Life as a Mergers & Acquisitions Attorney, Thursday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m.

    Join us for a conversation with Steven Haas from Hunton Andrews & Kurth and Sarah Mikowski at Hirschler Fleischer to discuss life as a mergers and acquisitions attorney. This event is limited to ten students, and registration is required.

    Read recaps of the event from Sarah Mikowski and Steven Haas.

    Understanding Your Client’s Market (And Your Own), Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. 

    During this event we will discuss why business lawyers need to understand their client’s market to offer effective legal advice.  It will also encourage students to think about the legal market that they want to cultivate for their own future practice.  This event will feature Professor Josh Kubicki, Director of Richmond Law’s new Legal Innovation & Entrepreneurship program.

    Learn more about Prof. Kubicki in this faculty spotlight.

    Informational Session about the JD/MBA Program, Wednesday, March 17 at noon. 

    Have you ever been curious about getting your MBA at the same time as your law degree?  This event will discuss our joint degree program with the Robins School of Business. Hear from the director of the program, as well as a graduate from the program and a student currently enrolled in it. 

    Career Corners: A Conversation About Business Law Careers, Wednesday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m.

    Interested in learning about different career paths in business law? Join the Richmond Law & Business Forum next Wednesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. for "Career Corners: A Conversation About Business Law Careers." We will feature four graduates of Richmond Law who practice four different types of business law — corporate compliance, intellectual property, business litigation, and finance. This event will allow students to talk in small groups with these lawyers about their practices and career paths. Registration is capped to allow for conversation, so you must register here.

    Participating lawyers include:
    - John Waller, a Compliance Manager at Amazon in Seattle, WA;
    - Caroline Fox, an intellectual property lawyer who started her own solo firm here in Richmond;
    - Michael Matheson, a Director at ThompsonMcMullan in Richmond who focuses on business litigation; and
    - Kimberly MacLeod, a partner at Hunton Andrews & Kurth in Richmond who specializes in bankruptcy and lender financings.

    Life as an In-House Attorney, Monday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m.

    Join the Richmond Law & Business Forum for a conversation about life as an in-house attorney. This discussion will focus on the day-to-day practice of lawyers who work inside companies providing legal advice related to the company’s business. This event is limited to ten students, and registration is required.