The Women in Funds CLE Interview Series
CLE-Accredited Interviews Curated by and for the Women in Funds Community
*Free to Women in Funds Members*

 

Women in Funds is a social community for the female leaders working in the private investment funds industry (hedge, PE, venture, credit, crypto and real estate funds) and select senior leaders at private fund related firms. Women in Funds members get free access to the following CLE accredited interviews selected by or created in partnership with Women in Funds. The details on how to get started earning credit are below the courese list:

 

  • After the Data Breach.  In the digital era, the specter of data breaches looms large, presenting a complex challenge that intertwines cybersecurity with an intricate web of legal obligations. As businesses grapple with the dual threats of sophisticated cyber-attacks and the labyrinthine regulations governing data protection, Michelle Reed, a cybersecurity law expert (Akin Gump) provides a timely exploration of this landscape. Reed walks through some of the challenges raised by overlapping cybersecurity laws and reporting obligations, a task that has become as crucial as it is can be daunting.

  • Economic Incentives for Diversity.  Diversity and inclusion are laudable goals, but how can change be created in an industry driven by tradition and financial return? This interview explores the concept of using economic incentives and rigorous data to encourage diversity within the legal profession. The conversation also explores controversial topics such as diversity spin, partner compensation, and the impact on the legal profession of changes to affirmative action law currently being considered at the Supreme Court.  Aviva Will is the Co-Chief Operating Officer at Burford Capital and one of the architects behind Burford’s Equity Project (a $150,000,000 fund allocated exclusively for women and minority litigators). Keith Harrison is a partner and co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Litigation Group and a member of the firm's Diversity Council.  Aviva and Keith sit down with TalksOnLaw’s Joel Cohen to discuss putting money on the line to overcome inherent biases and structural disadvantages and strategies to encourage and grow diversity in the profession. (diversity & inclusion)

  • Understanding SFFA v. Harvard. Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College signals a radical shift in how the Supreme Court views favoring racial diversity and affirmative action in higher education. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing the majority opinion in SFFA v. Harvard, rejects the use of race as a factor in college admissions, asserting that this practice, previously accepted under prior cases such as Bakke and Fisher (see additional resources), is no longer permissible. Professor Theodore Shaw of UNC Law School explains the evolution of affirmative action and racial diversity programs and the impact of this decision on our understanding of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

  • Lady Justice, Women Driving Legal Change.  The role of women in the legal profession is more than a statistic. Journalist Dahlia Lithwick shares insights from her beat (American courts and the law) about groundbreaking women at the very top of the legal profession. Dahlia explains how gender diversity must include women sharing the stage at the very highest levels of law. From Supreme Court justices, to Supreme Court advocates, to the fight against white nationalism, to the battle to reform gerrymandering, women are taking the lead. In a free-wheeling conversation Dahlia weighs in on many of the most important legal cases of our time and the central role that women have and continue to play. (diversity & inclusion)

  • Dobbs v. Jackson, a Battleground for Abortion Rights. The Supreme Court decided the most important abortion rights case in decades, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The case revolves around the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. We sit down for a conversation with one of the lawyers representing Jackson Women's Health Organization to discuss. Alexia Korberg (Paul Weiss), co-counsel to Jackson Women’s Health Organization, traces the history of abortion laws in the U.S. from colonial America, to Roe, to the current landscape of state abortion laws.

  • Suspicious Clients - a Duty to Investigate.  If a lawyer suspects, but does not know, that a client or potential client is engaged in criminal activity, can the lawyer still help the client? When does a lawyer have a duty to investigate her own clients? In its Formal Opinion 491 issued in 2020, the American Bar Association addressed lawyers’ obligations to inquire further to determine whether a client may be attempting to perpetrate a crime or fraud. Professor Peter Joy, legal ethics scholar, explains the ethics rules governing the lawyer’s scope of representation. He examines the standards put forth in Opinion 491 and raises surprising questions as to whether such standards actually fit with the ethics rules as they are drafted. (legal ethics)

  • Cyber Risk in Private Funds.  Today, all businesses, including private funds, depend on cloud-based technology and data storage. Private funds are high-value targets for cyber attacks because of the sensitive nature of the data held. The risks include business disruption, data disclosure, conversion, reputational harm, and legal liability. Ira Kustin (Akin Gump) and Sherrese Smith (Paul Hastings) explain the risks unique to private funds and the cybersecurity and data privacy regulations applicable to U.S. investment advisers. They then explore the increased regulatory scrutiny and the best practices for policies and procedures to ensure compliance and minimize cyber threats.

  • A Mindful Practice. Lawyers experience elevated levels of mental health issues, with many lawyers reporting anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and problem drinking. As the legal profession is coming to terms with this crisis, lawyers and legal employers are exploring ways to build a better profession and improve lawyer well-being. Professor Nathalie Martin of the University of New Mexico School of Law provides insights on mindfulness and the practice of being present in the moment.  (This is a two part series.  Part two can be viewed here.) (legal ethics)

  • Ethical Limits of Negotiations.  Ethics rules guide lawyer behavior, tactics, and strategy in negotiations. The rules prescribe the duties and responsibilities with regard to the client-lawyer relationship and to opposing counsel and third parties. Professor Carrie Menkel-Meadow of UC Irvine Law explores the boundaries of ethics requirements in negotiations. In part 1 of this 2-part series, she explores the rules on truthful statements, fraud, misrepresentation, and disclosure; facts versus opinions; and the tactics and behaviors permissible and impermissible in negotiations, including bluffing and puffing. (legal ethics)

  • Ethical Limits of Negotiations (part 2).  Professor Carrie Menkel-Meadow of UC Irvine Law explores the boundaries of ethics requirements in negotiations. In part 2 of this 2-part series, she explores the tactics and behaviors permissible and impermissible, including bullying and threats, and the concept of fairness in negotiations. (legal ethics)

  • Diversity in Justice.  Law is the least diverse profession in the country. Women and minority groups remain underrepresented, particularly in positions of authority. Diversity rates have flatlined in the past decade, but champions of diversity are working to change that. Judge Jenny Rivera of the New York Court of Appeals explores why the problem persists and offers her recommendations for progress. (diversity & inclusion)
     
  • Using Lawyers to Launder Money.  When criminals use shell companies, offshore bank accounts, and real estate as money laundering vehicles, lawyers, whether knowingly or unknowingly, assist these transactions. Professor William Simon explains how an unwitting lawyer could be complicit in the money laundering enterprise, the basics of money laundering laws and the risk factors, and suggests best practices for lawyers. (legal ethics)

 

To get free CLE credit for any of the above courses, simply join TalksOnLaw as an "a la carte" member. This allows you to select the state where you require CLE credit.  While the platform asks for a credit card, when purchasing any of the above courses, simply use the code WOMENinFUNDS (case sensitive) to have the full cost for each course taken dropped to $0.  Please email WIF@talksonlaw.com with any questions. 

 

 

 

2024 Unlimited CLE Member Benefit  ($300 Off)

Unlimited Membership at $99 (usually $399)

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Women in Funds is excited to expand our relationship with our community partner, TalksOnLaw. TalksOnLaw is now offering our members a 60% off discount on their premium unlimited membership (unlimited CLE for your cycle). Women in Funds members now save $200 off on membership. TalksOnLaw produces CLE-accredited interviews with legal titans (famous law professors and leading practitioners) on topics like dark money in politics, crypto regulation, and the limits of the First Amendment. For those interested in taking advantage, click here or email support at WIF@talksonlaw.com.

             – Laura Schnaidt, Women in Funds