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ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago Logo ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago Housed in the ºÚÁÏÃÅBusiness Leadership Hub Family Business Center

Family Business Through a Legal Lens

Navigating Legal Complexities in Family Business

Join the ºÚÁÏÃÅFamily Business Center at Katten’s downtown Chicago office on April 29 for our 3rd annual Family Business Through a Legal Lens event! No need to navigate family and business challenges alone—connect with in-house family business legal leaders, engage in interactive discussions on today’s top concerns, and wrap up the day with a networking happy hour.

Owner families, key employees, and legal counsel are invited to join the conversation. Attend a session or stay for the full day!

Download slides here.

Discussion Topics

  • Arc of Estate Planning for Family Business Owners
  • Family Office Trends and Insights
  • Ethics and Professionalism for In-house Counsel
  • Executive Compensation, Hiring, and Corporate Culture
  • Setting AI Expectations in Your Family Business
  • Managing the Ever-Changing Regulatory Environment alongside Your Business Priorities

Agenda

Click the dropdown to explore our program.

View the agenda

8:15 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast


8:30 - 8:35 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Nolan Burke, Chair, ºÚÁÏÃÅFamily Business Center Board and President, Burke Beverage, Inc.
Adam Damerow, Partner, Katten, and ºÚÁÏÃÅAlumnus
Jill McCall, Director, ºÚÁÏÃÅFamily Business Center


8:35 - 9:25 a.m.
Executive Compensation, Hiring, and Corporate Culture
As organizations strive to attract and retain talent, the blend of pay structures, hiring strategies, and corporate culture becomes more important. Join us and explore best practices and legal considerations.

Speakers:
Lauren Novak, CHRO and Employment Counsel, Corrugated Supplies Company
Mitch Pahl, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Katten


9:25 - 10:15 a.m.
Family Office Trends and Insights
This panel will discuss trends and insights from the world of family offices. Topics covered will include top family office objectives, costs, technology and cybersecurity, governance and succession planning. The panelists will share their personal experiences with respect to these timely topics.

Speakers:
Larry Barry, Director of Legal Affairs, Uline
Adam Novak, Driehaus Enterprise Management Inc.
Tye J. Klooster, Partner, Private Wealth, Katten


10:15 - 10:25 a.m.
Networking break


10:25 - 11:15 a.m.
Setting AI Expectations in Your Family Business
As artificial intelligence continues to shape the business landscape, family-owned companies must carefully navigate its adoption while considering legal, ethical, and governance implications. This panel will explore how family businesses assess AI opportunities, integrate them into strategic decision-making, and address potential legal risks.

Speakers:
Michael R. Justus Partner, Intellectual Property, Katten
Patricia Lee, Professor of Law, ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago; Director, Center for Business Law and the Business Law Clinic
Joe Mitzenmacher, Reference and Electronic Services Librarian, ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago


11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
Arc of Estate Planning for Family Business Owners
In this scenario-based presentation, the panelists will address common estate planning evolutionary “Arcs” in a person’s life, including:

The Arc of the testamentary estate plan;
The Arc of transfer tax (gift; estate; GST) planning; and
The Arc of additional planning considerations faced by most families.

Speakers:
Adam Damerow, Partner, Katten, and ºÚÁÏÃÅAlumnus 
Anne-Marie Rhodes, Professor of Law, ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago


12:05 - 1:00 p.m.
Networking Lunch (provided)


1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Ethics and Professionalism for In-house Counsel
Whether you are an in-house lawyer or you interface with inside or outside counsel, this scenario-based session will help you better navigate ethical and professional challenges. Our panelists will discuss counsel responsibilities in maintaining confidentiality, privilege, and professional obligations. Topics include managing conflicts of interest, the scope of attorney-client privilege, handling internal investigations, and responding to whistleblower complaints. Attendees will gain insights into legal ethics, corporate governance, and best practices for balancing legal duties with business realities.

Speakers:
Charlie DeVore, Partner & Deputy General Counsel, Katten
Elizabeth Lewis, General Counsel, Turtlewax, Inc. 
Johnny Schroeder,  General Counsel & Senior Manager of Plant Operational Systems, creative werks


2:00 - 2:50 p.m.
The Intersection of Ever-Changing Regulations with Business Priorities
Explore how businesses can navigate ever-changing regulations while still balancing strategic priorities. This panel will cover key topics such as buy/sell stock agreements and managing governance paperwork to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.

Speakers:
Ben Griffith
, Partner, Health Care, Katten
Jeffrey R. Patt, Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions, Katten
Sue Tran, Former Senior Vice President-General Counsel & Secretary, SC Johnson


2:50 - 3:00 p.m.
Key Takeaways and Final Q&A


3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Happy Hour

Featured Speakers

Adam Damerow

Partner, Katten and ºÚÁÏÃÅAlumnus

Adam Novak

Adam Novak

Senior Trust Officer, Driehaus Enterprise Management Inc.

Anne-Marie Rhodes

Anne-Marie Rhodes

John J. Waldron Professor of Law, ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago

Ben Griffith

Ben Griffith

Partner, Health Care, Katten

Charlie DeVore

Charlie DeVore

Partner and Deputy General Counsel, Katten

Elizabeth Lewis

Elizabeth Lewis

General Counsel, Turtle Wax, Inc.

Jeff Patt

Jeff Patt

Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions, Katten

Jill McCall

Director, ºÚÁÏÃÅFamily Business Center

Joe Mitzenmacher

Joe Mitzenmacher

Reference and Electronic Services Librarian, ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago

Johnny Schroeder

Johnny Schroeder

General Counsel and Sr. Manager, Plant Operational Systems, creative werks

Larry Barry

Larry Barry

Director of Legal Affairs, Uline

Lauren Novak

Lauren Novak

CHRO and Employment Counsel, Corrugated Supplies Company

Michael Justus

Michael Justus

Partner, Intellectual Property, Katten

Mitch Pahl

Mitch Pahl

Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Katten

Patricia Lee

Patricia Lee

Professor, ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago; Director, Center for Business Law and the Business Law Clinic

Sue Tran

Sue Tran

Retired SVP, General Counsel and Secretary, SC Johnson

Tye Klooster

Partner, Private Wealth, Katten

Event details and registration

Date: April 29, 2025
Time: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location:

This program is currently pending CLE accreditation review for California, Illinois, New York and Texas, subject to final presentation materials and attendance documentation.

Parking info

Guests can reserve parking in advance using or . Below are the two closest parking garages:

525 W Monroe (Platinum Parking)
Garage parking is available at the Katten office building.

500 W Monroe (Legacy Parking)
Convenient garage parking located across the street.

Navigating Legal Complexities in Family Business

Join the ºÚÁÏÃÅFamily Business Center at Katten’s downtown Chicago office on April 29 for our 3rd annual Family Business Through a Legal Lens event! No need to navigate family and business challenges alone—connect with in-house family business legal leaders, engage in interactive discussions on today’s top concerns, and wrap up the day with a networking happy hour.

Owner families, key employees, and legal counsel are invited to join the conversation. Attend a session or stay for the full day!

Download slides here.

Discussion Topics

  • Arc of Estate Planning for Family Business Owners
  • Family Office Trends and Insights
  • Ethics and Professionalism for In-house Counsel
  • Executive Compensation, Hiring, and Corporate Culture
  • Setting AI Expectations in Your Family Business
  • Managing the Ever-Changing Regulatory Environment alongside Your Business Priorities

Agenda

Click the dropdown to explore our program.

Event details and registration

Date: April 29, 2025
Time: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location:

This program is currently pending CLE accreditation review for California, Illinois, New York and Texas, subject to final presentation materials and attendance documentation.