The Disputes Summit New York 2022, organized by The Legal 500, convened on September 20, 2022, at etc.venues, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York. This summit brought together in-house counsel from the region to discuss pressing challenges and opportunities in the legal landscape, focusing on topics such as whistleblowing, diversity, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations.
Key sessions included an examination of workplace misconduct investigations, led by Helen Gugel and Brian Blais of Ropes & Gray, alongside Shelby Cuomo from Meta. They delved into the complexities of addressing harassment and discrimination allegations, emphasizing best practices for creating safe and positive work environments. Another significant panel, featuring Russell Capone and Lindsay Jenkins of Cooley LLP with Stephanie Accousti from ABB, explored the expansion of whistleblower rights and protections in the U.S., discussing appropriate procedures for internal investigations and effective communication between in-house and external counsel. Additionally, Jason Halper and Sara Bussiere of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, together with Genie Cesar-Fabian from Ethic, addressed ESG governance, disclosure, and litigation, offering insights into best practices for directors and board committees in monitoring and reporting on climate change and social impact matters.
The event provided ample networking opportunities, allowing attendees to engage with peers and industry leaders. Notable speakers included partners from leading law firms and senior in-house counsel from prominent corporations, offering diverse perspectives on the evolving legal landscape. The summit was supported by Ropes & Gray LLP, Cooley LLP, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, whose contributions were instrumental in facilitating these critical discussions.
This summit was particularly beneficial for in-house counsel and legal professionals seeking to stay abreast of current trends and challenges in the legal industry. Attendees gained valuable insights into managing workplace misconduct, navigating whistleblower protections, and implementing effective ESG strategies, equipping them to better address these issues within their organizations.
Speakers(12)
Brian Blais
Partner at Ropes & Gray
Brian Blais is a partner in the litigation and enforcement practice group at Ropes & Gray and a former federal prosecutor. His practice focuses on defending white-collar investigations by criminal authorities, enforcement actions and investigations by civil regulators, internal investigations, and civil litigation, particularly in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device, financial services, private equity, and asset management industries. Brian began his legal career at Ropes & Gray in 2004 and rejoined the firm in 2021 after serving over a decade as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York. As a federal prosecutor, he investigated and prosecuted over 150 criminal cases, served as lead or co-lead counsel for eight jury trials, authored approximately 20 appellate briefs filed with the Second Circuit, and argued eight times before that court. He also served as co-chief of the Office’s general crimes unit and as deputy chief of criminal appeals. Prior to his legal career, Brian worked for four years at Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Chris Kay
Conference Producer at The Legal 500
Chris Kay is a UK-qualified solicitor and a conference producer at The Legal 500. He was a practicing solicitor for five years before moving to The Legal 500. Chris works with general counsel, barristers, and law firm partners worldwide to organize and moderate legal conferences.
Eugenie 'Genie' Cesar-Fabian
General Counsel at Ethic
Eugenie ('Genie') Cesar-Fabian is general counsel at Ethic, a tech-enabled asset manager working toward a world where all investing is sustainable investing. Ethic enables wealth advisors to create custom equity portfolios tailored to investors’ unique values, tax preferences, and financial goals. Genie previously spent more than a decade at Palladium Equity Partners, the industry’s oldest minority-owned private equity leveraged buyout firm. During her tenure at Palladium, she served as general counsel and chief compliance officer before becoming a partner and transitioning into a new role as head of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability. In this role, she spearheaded Palladium’s B Corp certification process and worked with key internal stakeholders to fully integrate the analysis of ESG issues throughout the firm’s operations and those of its portfolio companies. Genie oversaw Palladium’s participation in noteworthy ESG initiatives, including the Institutional Limited Partners Association’s Diversity In Action program, the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment program, and the ESG Data Convergence Initiative. In 2021, the firm was named to industry publication Mergers & Acquisitions’ inaugural Private Equity Innovators in ESG list.
Genie Cesar-Fabian
General Counsel at Ethic
Eugenie ('Genie') Cesar-Fabian is general counsel at Ethic, a tech-enabled asset manager working toward a world where all investing is sustainable investing. Ethic enables wealth advisors to create custom equity portfolios tailored to investors’ unique values, tax preferences, and financial goals. Genie previously spent more than a decade at Palladium Equity Partners, the industry’s oldest minority-owned private equity leveraged buyout firm. During her tenure at Palladium, she served as general counsel and chief compliance officer before becoming a partner and transitioning into a new role as head of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability. In this role, she spearheaded Palladium’s B Corp certification process and worked with key internal stakeholders to fully integrate the analysis of ESG issues throughout the firm’s operations and those of its portfolio companies. Genie oversaw Palladium’s participation in noteworthy ESG initiatives, including the Institutional Limited Partners Association’s Diversity In Action program, the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment program, and the ESG Data Convergence Initiative. In 2021, the firm was named to Mergers & Acquisitions’ inaugural Private Equity Innovators in ESG list.
Helen Gugel
Partner at Ropes & Gray
Helen Gugel is a partner in the litigation and enforcement practice group at Ropes & Gray. She focuses on investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement activities related to market misconduct and potential violations of federal securities and commodities laws. Helen has substantial experience conducting investigations and advising clients on high-profile allegations of serious wrongdoing, including workplace harassment, sexual misconduct, and unethical business practices. Her clients include global financial institutions, investment advisers, public companies, non-profits, schools, and individuals. She has published numerous articles on securities and enforcement matters and co-authored a practitioner guide titled 'Commodities & Futures Enforcement: Practice and Procedure in CFTC and SRO Investigations.' Helen has also taught legal writing and research as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law and served as a special assistant district attorney in Kings County.
Jason Halper
Partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Jason Halper is the co-chair of Cadwalader’s global litigation group, head of the corporate and financial services litigation practice, and a member of the firm’s management committee. He also leads the firm’s climate change litigation and advisory practice. Jason is a lecturer in law, focusing on corporate governance, climate change, compliance, and ethics, at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a frequent speaker and author. He is a member of the advisory board of Harvard Law School’s program on corporate governance and a regular guest contributor to the Harvard Law School forum on corporate governance and financial regulation.
Lindsay Jenkins
Partner at Cooley LLP
Lindsay Jenkins is a partner at Cooley LLP and a former federal prosecutor with extensive experience overseeing complex, high-stakes criminal cases and government investigations. Over more than 15 years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, Lindsay led prosecutions and investigations across a broad range of issues, including public corruption, bribery and extortion, mortgage, investment and healthcare grant fraud, theft of trade secrets, computer intrusion, and civil rights violations. By the end of her tenure, she was the chief of the criminal division, supervising approximately 150 prosecutors in nine criminal prosecution sections. Her responsibilities included approving investigations, charges, pleas, and trial strategies for the most significant and high-profile prosecutions, as well as liaising with the Department of Justice and other law enforcement and regulatory agencies. She also supervised the district’s civil asset forfeiture program and oversaw an 18-week in-house training program for new prosecutors.
Russell Capone
Partner at Cooley LLP
Russell Capone is a partner at Cooley LLP and a former federal prosecutor with significant experience handling complex criminal cases, particularly those involving corruption, financial fraud, and other white-collar crimes. He served for over ten years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, most recently as chief counsel to the U.S. Attorney. In that role, Russell helped oversee the office's most significant and sensitive investigations and prosecutions involving white-collar and cybercrime, securities fraud, public corruption, terrorism, gang violence, organized crime, sex trafficking, and international narcotics trafficking. He also supervised matters arising in the office's civil division, including those involving civil rights violations and violations of the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute.
Sara Bussiere
Associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Sara Bussiere is an associate in Cadwalader’s global litigation group. She represents financial institutions, corporations, alternative entities, and officers and directors in a range of complex litigation matters in state and federal court. Prior to joining Cadwalader, Sara practiced at a Delaware corporate boutique representing clients in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Delaware Superior Court Complex Commercial Litigation Division, and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. She counseled clients concerning the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and Delaware’s alternative entity statutes and handled other complex commercial matters. In 2020, Sara was included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in recognition of her work in commercial litigation. In 2018 and 2019, Super Lawyers recognized Sara as a Delaware Rising Star for her business/corporate work. In 2019, she graduated from the distinguished Federal Trial Practice Seminar sponsored by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Sara earned her J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, where she served as admissions editor of the Journal of Law and International Affairs. She graduated from Lafayette College with a B.A. in government and law, with honors, in 2009, and served as captain of Lafayette’s varsity softball team. Sara is admitted to practice in New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
Shelby Cuomo
Lead Counsel, Special Investigations at Meta
Shelby Cuomo is lead counsel for special investigations at Meta Platforms, Inc., a global social media and technology company serving over 3 billion users. Before joining Meta, Shelby was an attorney in the government enforcement practice group at an international law firm, where she represented clients in governmental inquiries and managed internal legal matters.
Stephanie Accousti
Global Head of Integrity Investigations at ABB
Stephanie Accousti is the Global Head of Integrity Investigations at ABB, leading the company's efforts in maintaining ethical standards.
Stephanie Accuosti
Global Head of Integrity Investigations at ABB
Stephanie Accuosti is the global head of integrity investigations at ABB, a global technology company. She leads the company’s integrity investigations portfolio and the development and execution of its integrity risk detection and monitoring program. Stephanie manages a global team of attorneys, investigators, and data analysts. Before joining ABB, she spent several years with multinational oil and gas company Weatherford, where she held positions including associate general counsel for compliance, responsible for the company’s ethics, compliance, data privacy, and anti-corruption and fraud programs. Stephanie started her legal career in private practice as a white-collar defense and investigations lawyer at Gibson Dunn. She earned her B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she graduated order of the coif.
Event Details
- Date
- September 20, 2022
- Location
- 🇺🇸 New York, United States
- etc.venues, 601 Lexington Avenue
- Audience
- In-house counsel and legal professionals
- CLE Credits
- 1.0 NY Transitional Ethics & Professionalism credit, 0.75 CA Ethics credit, 0.75 IL Professional Responsibility credit