Global Transformation Panel

Global Transformation Panel

Moderator

Gina Passarella

Editor-in-Chief, Global Legal Brands, ALM Media LLC

Gina Passarella oversees the editorial strategy and product development for The American Lawyer, Law.com International, Law.com Pro, Corporate Counsel, Legaltech News, The National Law Journal and China Law & Practice. An Emmy award-winning journalist, she has covered the legal industry for 17 years, focusing on the business of law, client relationships, innovation in the legal industry, and mental health and well-being. Meet Gina!

Erin Anderson

Senior Vice President, Human Resources, 2U, Inc.

Erin Anderson is a senior human resources executive with more than 20 years of recruiting and human resources experience in a variety of industries, including tech services and education. As a leader on the 2U people team for the last 12 years, Erin is known for removing barriers and has worked to cultivate a culture that enables an exceptional employee experience, develops great leaders, and provides individuals the tools to excel in their roles, all as the company transformed from a private start-up to a publicly traded leader in delivering high-quality digital education at scale. Previously, she was an HR leader at Educate, Inc. Erin received her undergraduate degree from James Madison University and is based in Annapolis, Maryland. Meet Erin!

Yelena Barychev

Partner, Corporate, Blank Rome LLP

Yelena Barychev advises management and boards of directors on corporate governance matters, including executive and director compensation and compliance with NASDAQ and NYSE listing requirements; public and private offerings of securities; preparation of proxy statements, Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and other SEC filings; cybersecurity risk management; and compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and the JOBS Act. She is also a co-lead of the firm’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) team. She works with directors and management to provide guidance on ESG strategies, reporting, and disclosure. Meet Yelena!

Franchesca M. Fowler

Head of Legal & Compliance, US and Global Associate General Counsel, Demant

As the longstanding head of legal & compliance for Demant, a world-leading hearing healthcare company, Franchesca Fowler manages all U.S. legal affairs; supervises, develops, and trains a team of skilled attorneys; and advises on a broad range of organization, employee relations, intellectual property, litigation, tax, privacy, regulatory, and compliance matters. Based in New Jersey, she is a graduate of Fordham University and Rutgers Law School. Meet Franchesca!

Shadi Jahangir

Partner, Finance, Blank Rome LLP

Shadi Jahangir focuses her practice in the areas of commercial lending and corporate finance. She represents financial institutions, leading private equity sponsors, and corporate borrowers in middle-market debt financing and investment-grade credits. Shadi’s experience includes widely syndicated, club and single-lender representation in complex cross-border financings, restructurings, acquisition financings, recapitalizations, traditional asset-based lending facilities, and debt financings for technology companies. She also represents clients in senior-secured, first-lien/second-lien, mezzanine, unitranche, and unsecured financing transactions. Meet Shadi!

Stephanie Gantman Kaplan

Partner, Labor & Employment, Blank Rome LLP

Stephanie Gantman Kaplan concentrates her practice in labor and employment litigation and advice. Through proactive training, thoughtful counseling, and auditing of employment policies and practices, Steph works with clients to develop best practices and limit legal exposure. She represents clients nationally on a variety of matters, including litigations on behalf of employers involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, accommodations, leaves, wage claims, and restrictive covenants in federal and state courts, and administrative agencies when applicable; and manages high stakes internal investigations and external investigations by government agencies. Meet Stephanie!

Sharon R. Klein

Partner and Chair, Privacy, Security & Data Protection Practice, Blank Rome LLP

Sharon Klein advises businesses on assessing and mitigating risks related to the privacy and security of personal data, ownership, and commercialization of data artificial intelligence; planning, drafting, and implementing privacy, security, and data protection policies and “best practices”; compliance with global, federal, and state privacy and security laws, regulations, and rules; data governance; and breach response, crisis management, and remedies for non-compliance. She is certified as an information privacy professional by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Sharon also has deep experience in negotiating and drafting complex technology and cloud transactions, licensing, and strategic IT and commercial agreements. Meet Sharon!

Patricia “Patty” Ryan

Chief Information Security Officer, QuidelOrtho

Patty Ryan is responsible for defining QuidelOrtho’s global information security strategy, roadmap, and operating infrastructure. Partnering globally with IT, compliance, commercial, regulatory, legal, quality, R&D, and strategic marketing resources, she ensures that all information security controls operate effectively and efficiently, that staff are aware of their responsibility to protect client and proprietary information, and that the security team defines and manages information risk appropriately. Patty has more than 30 years of IT experience, over half of that in information security executive positions. She has worked in financial services (Bankers Trust, Citi, CitiStreet), life sciences (Johnson & Johnson), and legal (Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy LLP) and brings a wide range of experience to Ortho. She holds a BA in Economics from Columbia College, Columbia University and an Executive MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Meet Patty!

Jennifer von Bismarck

CEO, Galway Sustainable Capital Inc.

Jennifer von Bismarck is a founding partner and CEO of Galway Sustainable Capital (“GSC”) where she co-leads the Company’s efforts to originate and underwrite transactions in sustainable credit, serves on the boards of portfolio companies, raises corporate capital, and oversees day-to-day operations of the Company. Prior to forming GSC, Ms. Von Bismarck served as an investment partner in Galway II, III and IV, as well as affiliated entities, TowPath Partners and ARENA Investments (collectively the “Galway Companies”). These prior investment enterprises served to originate, underwrite and acquire niche non-correlated assets in structured credit as well as sustainability. Ms. von Bismarck served on the investment committee of these entities, helped lead the acquisition of $2 billion in financial assets, including a portfolio of commercial energy efficiency assets, and oversaw the issuance of over $1 billion in debt and private placements. One such placement won the US Asset-Backed Securities Deal of the Year Award. Prior to her work with the Galway Companies, Ms. von Bismarck served as the second team member hired to manage the personal net worth of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. Ms. von Bismarck serves on the board of Partnership for Responsible Growth, a non-profit organization working to establish a regulated price on carbon. She holds a BA from Mount Holyoke and an MBA from Cornell University. Meet Jennifer!

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For further information, contact Meredith Spilker,
Director of Business Development.

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