AGENDA & CURRICULUM
MLA's General Counsel Academy will start with dinner on June 15th and conclude on June 16th after a full day of dynamic discussions.
Welcome:
- Welcome from MLA
- Keynote Speaker: Tony West, Chief Legal Officer, Uber
This opening panel sets the tone for a day focused on leadership and judgment in an era where risk is constant, fast‑moving, and highly visible. Panelists will examine how General Counsel think about risk holistically across cyber, regulatory, product, DEI, and executive conduct and the implications for organizational credibility and trust. The conversation will address the GC’s role in moments of crisis, including engagement with communications teams, oversight of government investigations, and the preservation of privilege under intense scrutiny. The focus is on how GCs lead when uncertainty is high, and the consequences of decisions extend well beyond legal outcomes.
This panel explores the evolution of the General Counsel role from chief legal advisor to enterprise leader with responsibilities that increasingly extend beyond legal. Panelists will discuss how today’s GCs serve as trusted advisors to the CEO and board while also taking on broader mandates such as compliance, risk, ESG, HR, or corporate governance and how they adapt their leadership style accordingly. The conversation will examine navigating board and executive dynamics with presence and judgment, balancing legal and business considerations, and setting ethical tone at the top. The discussion positions the General Counsel as a central steward of organizational integrity, strategy, and enterprise value.
This panel explores how General Counsel approach legal operations, technology, and AI as strategic enablers of leadership and scale. Panelists will discuss how mature legal organizations think about AI governance, contract and data strategy, and performance measurement in ways that align with the priorities of CEOs, CFOs, and boards. The focus is on positioning legal infrastructure to support sound judgment, business outcomes, and enterprise value—rather than on tools alone.
This panel brings together a General Counsel, a Chief Financial Officer, and a board member to explore how strategy, risk, and decision‑making come together at the highest levels of the organization. Through a cross‑functional perspective, panelists will discuss how experienced GCs engage the CEO, CFO, and Board with credibility and influence framing legal issues in business terms, balancing risk with growth, and contributing to enterprise value. The conversation focuses on leadership judgment and alignment, positioning the General Counsel as a trusted advisor across the C‑suite and in the boardroom.