2025 Corporate Counsel Symposium

Your Guide to the Afternoon

For three decades, our symposium has been the go-to event for in-house legal professionals across Wisconsin. This year, join us as we dive into the critical issues shaping 2025 and beyond—including hot topics in intellectual property, data privacy, brand protection, managing risk with distressed customers, ethics, and more.

After the program, join us for a social hour and continue the conversation, meet our speakers, or enjoy a bite to eat.

Did you know we offer our symposium in three cities? Join us in De Pere, Milwaukee, or Madison.

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Schedule of Events

12:30 - 1:00 p.m. | Arrival and Registration
1:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Program
4:30 - 6:00 p.m. | Refreshments and Networking
 

Program Highlights

Key Business Changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

25 minutes | Tim Smith

Stay current on the latest developments in business taxation with an overview of key provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted on July 4, 2025. This session will explore significant business tax changes and related planning considerations, including updates to capital gains exclusions for qualified small business stock, the qualified business income deduction, bonus depreciation, research and experimental expenditure deductions, and state and local tax limitations. We’ll also highlight other notable provisions and strategies to help businesses navigate this evolving tax landscape.
 

Yellow Corporation & Red Flags: Managing Risk with Distressed Customers

25 minutes | Crystal Abbey, Nick Hahn & Erin West

When customers or vendors are in distress, the risks to your company can be significant. Using the Yellow Corporation bankruptcy as a case study, this session will cover key warning signs of financial distress, strategies to limit downside exposure, and the legal framework around preferences and fraudulent transfers. Attendees will leave with practical tools to navigate distressed customer/supplier relationships and protect their businesses.
 

Clause and Effect: Contracts and Conflict Resolution

25 minutes | Kelly Lewandowski & Matt Wuest

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provisions can shape how business disputes are managed and how costly or efficient resolution becomes. This session will examine the most common ADR clauses found in contracts, with highlights on drafting and negotiation tips, and lessons learned from real-world application of these provisions.
 

Domains, Data, and Diligence: Digital Business Practices During Constant Disruption

50 minutes | Shane Delsman, Sarah Sargent & Zach Willenbrink

Learn concrete steps to safeguard your company’s IP, data, reputation, and bottom line in today’s digital world. We’ll unpack the uncertainty and unexpected risks that every business faces when they do business online or use software, AI, and other digital tools. We’ll discuss fast-changing AI regulation, online brand defense, third-party and vendor risks, and hidden privacy issues that could expose your business to consumer litigation, among other topics, and offer legal strategies in-house counsel can implement proactively to avoid issues later.
 

Advising your Organizational Client About Risk to its Constituents

50 minutes | Olivia Robinson & Todd Smith

When in-house counsel provide advice to their organizational client, they necessarily communicate through, and take direction from, the organization’s constituents, such as officers, directors or employees. While the lawyer’s client may be the organization, the client’s decisions may have legal implications for the stakeholders as well. What are an attorney’s duties when advising an organizational client about conduct that could create risk for its constituents? This program will explore these topics and help counsel ensure they are providing appropriate advice to clients while avoiding confusion about the lawyer’s role.
 

Why Attend?

Gain the insights you need to navigate 2025's most pressing challenges. Connect with fellow in-house counsel, learn from industry leaders, and leave equipped with actionable strategies.

3.5 CLE credits, including 1.0 Ethics credit, are anticipated.
 

Attendance is limited to ensure a focused program. Please email events@gklaw.com if you’re interested in joining.