Trusted Advisor to Corporate Boards and Executives on Governance, Compliance and Global Risk
For three decades, I have advised corporate leaders and boards on their most complex challenges, often in the context of government enforcement and global regulatory scrutiny.
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For three decades, I have advised corporate leaders and boards on their most complex challenges, often in the context of government enforcement and global regulatory scrutiny. My work has been international in scope and focused on helping organisations manage risk, protect reputation and make sound decisions in moments of crisis.
I am a recognised authority on corporate governance, ethics and compliance, with deep expertise in the expectations of U.S. and international regulators. My career includes significant boardroom engagement as trusted counsel to public company boards facing enforcement actions and as an advisor to start-ups.
I have published and spoken widely on issues of governance and ethics, including essays on “Projecting Ethics” in NACD’s Directorship magazine. I am also committed to bridging the gap between law and business—an area often underexplored in academia.
At the University of Wisconsin Law School, I designed and teach Lawyer as Strategic Business Advisor, a course that trains lawyers to operate as strategic partners to executives. My scholarly interests extend to the business of law and the disruption of legal services.
Experienced Board Member & Advisor to Boards of Director
20+ year partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, an AmLaw 50 U.S. corporate law firm.
As a trusted legal and strategic advisor to C-Suite executives and boards, I specialize in corporate reputation management, governance, compliance and risk management. I serve as an experienced guide for management teams in solving complex, high-stakes global problems arising from compliance failures that threaten significant financial and reputational harm.
Oxford Executive MBA
Berkeley J.D.
Wisconsin B.A.
Board & Advisory Leadership
Chairman of the Board
St. Vincent de Paul Society Endowment (Waukesha County, WI) – Current Service
Chairman of the Board of Advisors
AIESEC Madison (Non-profit) – Current Service
Advisory Board Member
Augmetec (Legal Tech Start-up)
Board of Directors Member
Federal Defender Service of Wisconsin (6+ years)
15+ Year Counsel
Board of Directors of the leading paper packaging trade association.
Published Insights
Author, “Five Practices to Institutionalize Ethics, Integrity and Compliance,” Directorship (National Association of Corporate Directors) (Fall 2025)
Author (with Knox Mcilwain and Shiv Haria-Shah), “Turn Your Lawyer into a Strategic Weapon,” Financial Times Agenda (August 18, 2025)
Workshop Leader, University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, “General Counsels are from Mars; CEOs are from Venus: How to Deploy Your Legal Advisors to Advance Your Business Objectives” (April 22, 2025)
Author, “Projecting Ethics: How to Create a Corporate Culture of Integrity,” Directorship (National Association of Corporate Directors) (Summer 2024)
Academic Authority
– Founding Director of the Concilium Global Network of counsel specialising in compliance, cross-border investigations and global enforcement defence.
– Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School; created and teaches “Lawyer as Strategic Business Advisor” course.
Featured in Financial times & Dictatorship
Adjunct Professor 2024 – Present
University of Wisconsin Law School
Developed and taught the 3L seminar “Lawyer as Strategic Business Advisor.”
Co-Chair – Fall 2025 Compliance Initiative
“A New Era of Corporate Compliance: Opportunities, Risks and Ethical Dimensions of Generative AI and Emerging Technologies.”
Scholary speaking and Writing
2025
Author, “Five Practices to Institutionalize Ethics, Integrity and Compliance,” Directorship (National Association of Corporate Directors) (Fall 2025)
Author (with Knox McIlwain and Shiv Haria-Shah), “Turn Your Lawyer into a Strategic Weapon,” Financial Times Agenda (August 18, 2025)
Guest lecturer, University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, “Leading and Investing in the Legal Services Industry” (April 22, 2025)
Workshop Leader, University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, “General Counsels are from Mars; CEOs are from Venus: How to Deploy Your Legal Advisors to Advance Your Business Objectives” (April 22, 2025)
2024
Author, “Projecting Ethics: How to Create a Corporate Culture of Integrity,” Directorship (National Association of Corporate Directors) (Summer 2024)
Co-author (with Prof. John Burrows), “Becoming a Great Negotiator: Six Tips for Lawyers,” Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine (January 9, 2024)
2023
Presenter, University of Illinois College of Law Symposium, “Whistleblowers, Internal Investigations, and Compliance Design in the United States, Germany, and Austria.” (May 23, 2023)
Adjunct Professor
University of Wisconsin Law School
2024 – Present
Developed and teaches the 3L seminar “Lawyer as Strategic Business Advisor.” The course examines how lawyers move beyond traditional legal roles and operate as trusted strategic advisors to business leaders.
The seminar explores the intersection of law, governance, business strategy and corporate reputation, with particular emphasis on how lawyers support executive decision-making in complex corporate environments.
Course Developed
A seminar designed to prepare lawyers to act as strategic partners to executives and boards rather than purely legal technicians.
The course combines academic discussion with real-world case studies drawn from corporate governance disputes, regulatory enforcement actions, and major corporate crises.
- The evolving role of lawyers as trusted advisors to executives and boards.
- Corporate governance and reputation management.
- Strategic decision-making and cognitive bias in leadership.
- Business strategy frameworks used by senior management.
- The impact of technology and generative AI on the legal profession.
- The lawyer’s role in navigating crises, investigations and regulatory risk
Compliance Initiative (Fall 2025)
A New Era of Corporate Compliance: Opportunities, Risks and Ethical Dimensions of Generative AI and Emerging Technologies
Co-Chair of the initiative exploring how emerging technologies such as generative AI are reshaping corporate compliance frameworks, governance expectations, and ethical decision-making within modern organizations.
Guest Lectures & Workshops
Guest Lecturer – University of Oxford, Saïd Business School
Leading and Investing in the Legal Services Industry
Workshop Leader – University of Oxford, Saïd Business School
General Counsels are from Mars; CEOs are from Venus: How to Deploy Your Legal Advisors to Advance Your Business Objectives
Corporate Governance
Compliance Programs
Global Investigations
Anti-Corruption & FCPA
Strategic Advisory
For inquiries related to corporate governance, compliance, regulatory risk, or speaking engagements, please use the form or contact details below.
David W. Simon