Family Business Through a Legal Lens

8:15 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 8:35 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Adam Damerow, Partner, Katten, and Loyola Alumnus
Jill McCall, Director, Loyola Family 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, Loyola University Chicago; Director, Center for Business Law and the Business Law Clinic
Joe Mitzenmacher, Reference and Electronic Services Librarian, Loyola University 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 Loyola Alumnus 
Anne-Marie Rhodes, Professor of Law, Loyola University 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.
Closing Content

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

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

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

500 W Monroe (Legacy Parking)
Convenient garage parking located across the street. Click here for details.