DLA Piper’s Third Global Women’s Leadership Summit (GWLS) begins this evening in Chicago. In an effort to support female lawyers in developing leadership skills and creating business development opportunities, this event brings together women in the legal profession to engage in highly informative panel discussions and networking sessions.
This year, the summit’s focus is on the emerging roles general counsel play in today’s global business and political environments. The two-day, invite-only event kicks off this evening at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago with a networking reception and dinner. Keynote speaker Valerie Jarrett, senior legal advisor to President Barack Obama, will engage in an inspiring, thought-provoking discussion National Public Radio’s Mara Liasson, an award-winning journalist and national political correspondent.
On Tuesday, attendees will be treated to a full day of informative panel discussions covering topics such as excelling as an effective trusted advisor, building and leading successful law departments, taking steps toward board membership, managing corporate crisis, and demonstrating success as a general counsel. The day's keynote sessions will include a morning discussion with Michelle Bernard—CEO of The Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy—about how women today are changing the definition of feminism, as well as a lunch presentation by Liza Donnelly, a writer and cartoonist for The New Yorker and Forbes.com.
Christina Martini, chair of this year’s summit and a partner at DLA Piper, said these summits have traditionally been very thought-provoking, forward-thinking events. She said she expects this year’s event to be no different.
"This year’s summit will address those issues that today’s general counsel and in-house women leaders think about every day," Martini said. "Today’s general counsel wear many different hats, and we will discuss the importance of successfully balancing each of those responsibilities while being able to effectively partner with clients in successfully accomplishing their business goals and objectives in a value-driven, cost-effective manner."
The event wraps up Tuesday evening with a networking reception where attendees and speakers will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and key takeaways of the day’s events.