Corporate Law Lab

In this episode of Corporate Law Lab, host Neil Taylor and Corporate Law Fellow Phoebe Uttermohlen sit down with Michelle Reid, general counsel and chief administrative officer of the Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky. Michelle shares her path from studying economics at the University of Louisville to law school at UC Law, private practice, commercial real estate, and her current role supporting...

In this episode of Corporate Law Lab, host Neil Taylor and Klekamp Law rising 3L Faith Howard sit down with Austin Stevenson, an attorney at Strauss Troy whose practice focuses on transactional work, mergers and acquisitions, and outside general counsel services. Austin shares his path from Northern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky College of Law to his current role at Strauss Tr...

In this episode of Corporate Law Lab, host Neil Taylor and Corporate Law Fellow Phoebe Uttermohlen sit down with Sara Vandore-Mackay, a media and entertainment lawyer whose career has taken her from international arbitration and privacy litigation to television broadcasting, reality TV, and legal technology. Sara shares her journey from Scotland to some of Europe's leading legal and media institut...

In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor is joined by AI governance strategist and legal innovator Suzanne “Suz” Mueller (UC Law ‘01)  for an in-depth conversation about the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, fiduciary responsibility and corporate decision-making. Drawing from her background in aviation, cross-border transactions and corporate legal leadership...

Barbara Becker | Leadership, Law Firm Strategy, and Building a Career at Scale In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor, Director of the Corporate Law Center at the University of Cincinnati College of Law , speaks with Barbara Becker, Chair & Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn, about leading a global law firm in a rapidly evolving legal market. Barbara discusses her path from law s...

In this special episode of Corporate Law Lab , we’re sharing Neil Taylor’s lecture from the 35th Corporate Law Center Symposium. Neil challenges a common assumption in ethics: that doing the right thing is primarily about individual character. Instead, he explores how situational forces—like group dynamics, time pressure, and organizational culture—often play a much larger role in shaping behavior...

Carl Valenstein | Global Practice, Legal Judgment, and a Career Built to Last In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor, Director of the Corporate Law Center at the University of Cincinnati College of Law , speaks with Carl Valenstein, a partner at Morgan Lewis, about building a dynamic international legal career spanning more than 40 years. Carl discusses his path from an early inte...

Patrick Hayes | Compliance, Entrepreneurship, and Building a Legal Career That Evolves In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor, Director of the Corporate Law Center at the University of Cincinnati College of Law , and student co-host Brett Blair speak with Patrick Hayes of Calfee about building a modern legal practice focused on securities compliance and entrepreneurial clients. Pa...

Louise Brock | Labor & Employment Law, In-House Practice, and Workplace Culture In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor, Director of the Corporate Law Center at the University of Cincinnati College of Law , speaks with Louise Brock about her career in labor and employment law and her transition from law firm practice to in-house legal leadership. Louise reflects on: Choosing la...

Bridget McGraw | Leadership, Compliance, and Career Growth at GE Aerospace In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor speaks with Bridget McGraw, General Counsel, Technology & Operations at GE Aerospace and an alumna of the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Bridget discusses her professional path from litigation to in-house leadership, including her work in global complianc...

Charles Tatelbaum: Lessons from a 60-Year Legal Career In this episode of the Corporate Law Lab, Neil Taylor speaks with Charles Tatelbaum, one of the country’s most experienced and respected bankruptcy lawyers. Over nearly sixty years in practice, Tatelbaum has handled major Chapter 11 matters, advised corporate counsel navigating distressed situations, and contributed to the evolution of modern...

In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor is joined by George Vincent, Secretary and General Counsel of Kroger, for a candid conversation about transitioning from decades in private practice to leading legal, ethics, and compliance inside one of the largest grocery retailers in the country. George reflects on what shifts when you move from advising many clients to serving just one, h...

Join us in celebrating Jordan Bleznick, one of the most insightful and engaging guests we’ve ever featured on the Corporate Law Lab. With decades of experience advising on high-stakes corporate transactions, restructurings, and complex tax strategy, Jordan brings a rare combination of clarity, depth, and generosity to every conversation.  In this special “best of” episode, Jordan shares standout m...

In this episode of the Corporate Law Lab, Neil Taylor sits down with Ed Doyle for an in-depth discussion about negotiation and the human skills that shape successful outcomes. Doyle reflects on his career path, the experiences that informed his approach, and the core principles he now teaches to emerging leaders and advocates. Topics include: Preparing for a negotiation Understanding interests vs....

In this episode, Corporate Law Center Director Neil Taylor sits down with Larry Church, founding partner of Church Langdon Lopp & Banet (CLLB), alongside Corporate Law Fellow Annabelle Fisher. Larry shares his journey from growing up in rural Ohio to building a thriving law firm, reflecting on early career decisions, the realities of big-firm life, and how he ultimately found his calling in me...

Host: Neil Taylor Guest: Laura Hinegardner, Senior Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, Great American Insurance Group Co-Host: Maggie Hinegardner, Corporate Law Fellow, University of Cincinnati College of Law Laura Hinegardner joins Corporate Law Lab to discuss her evolution from litigation partner at Katz Teller to senior in-house counsel at Great American Insurance Group. She reflect...

Host: Neil Taylor Guests: Kent Wellington & Lisa Diedrichs, Bricker Graydon Co-Host: Greta Propp, Corporate Law Fellow In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , Neil Taylor talks with Kent Wellington and Lisa Diedrichs about how leadership, authenticity, and community engagement sustain meaningful legal careers. The conversation explores their journeys from law school to firm leadership, how Bric...

Host Neil Taylor and co-host Christian Bugher welcomes Susan Bridgman, General Counsel of Karman Space & Defense, to the table for a candid conversation about evolution, strategy, and leadership in corporate law. Susan details her journey from studying Italian and corporate sales to mastering highly complex regulatory domains like the tax code and ITAR. She explains why curiosity and adaptabil...

In Part 2 of our interview, Jordan Bleznick — longtime tax counsel — opens up about structuring billion-dollar deals, the fine line between tax avoidance and evasion, and colorful moments like Herbalife, TWA, and Hertz. A candid look at the tax strategies and corporate battles that shaped modern activist investing.

Corporate Law Lab host Neil Taylor sits down with Jordan Bleznick, the outstanding tax lawyer whose almost forty-year professional relationship with renowned activist investor Carl Icahn included serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Tax Counsel for various Icahn entities from 2002 to 2023. Jordan shares stories from his Cincinnati upbringing, explains how he became Carl Icahn’s trusted advis...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Joe Ankus—President of Ankus Consulting, Inc. and former Big Law attorney—we move from personal journey to professional insight. Joe lifts the curtain on the legal recruiting world, sharing candid stories, industry truths, and valuable advice for lawyers navigating the market. From understanding what makes a great recruiter to avoiding the pitfalls of "ghost post...

In this powerful episode of Corporate Law Lab , Neil Taylor is joined by Joe Ankus, President of Ankus Consulting and a former Big Law attorney who walked away from traditional legal practice to build a new career—and a healthier life. Joe shares his deeply personal journey through anxiety, burnout, and transformation. This conversation dives into the importance of mental health, the reality of le...

In this episode of Corporate Law Lab , host Neil Taylor is joined by Dinsmore’s current Managing Partner Joshua Lorentz and former Managing Partner George Vincent for an in-depth look at law firm leadership across generations. From navigating the Great Recession to scaling the firm from a regional player to a coast-to-coast presence, Josh and George open up about what it takes to lead through both...

In this episode of the Corporate Law Lab , Neil Taylor sits down with Kenneth Van Winkle, Vice Chair at Womble Bond Dickinson and longtime managing partner of Lewis Roca, to explore the evolution of leadership in law firms. From his early career in Phoenix during the real estate boom to leading law firm mergers and expanding firm culture across markets, Ken shares his insights on building a sustai...

In this episode of Corporate Law Lab, host Neil Taylor sits down with Jody Brant, President and CEO of Katz Teller, to explore what it means to lead with purpose in the modern legal industry. Jody shares insights on building a culture that values transparency, mentorship, and collaboration, how AI is changing the billable hour, and why trusting your team matters more than micromanaging metrics.