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.

WRITE TO: dsimon@foley.com

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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. write to: dsimon@foley.com View: LN DOWNLOAD RESUME

Biography

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.

Professional Information

David W. Simon

Partner - Foley & Lardner LLP

Adjunct Professor - University of Wisconsin Law School

Trusted strategic advisor to C-Suite executives and boards on corporate reputation management, governance, compliance and risk management, with a particular focus on emerging markets. Guide management and boards in solving complex, high-stakes global problems that threaten significant financial and reputational harm.

T H O U G H T L E A D E R

Board & Advisory Leadership

Board and advisory roles across nonprofit, technology and professional organizations.

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

Project_Ethics
Agenda_David

Board & Advisory Leadership

Board and advisory roles across nonprofit, technology and professional organizations.

2019 – Present

CHAIRMAN

St. Vincent de Paul Society Endowment

2019 – Present

CHAIRMAN

AIESEC Madison – Board of Advisors

2019 – Present

Founding Director

Concilium Global Network

2022 – Present

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Augmetec Ltd. – London

Work Experience

2002 - Current Partner Foley & Lardner LLP - United States

  • Legal practice focused on advising management and boards on legal, compliance and reputational risk; conducting international internal investigations to mitigate actions by global government enforcement agencies; and defending companies in business crime enforcement actions.
  • Conduct compliance and regulatory risk assessments and advise companies on the legal and reputational risks associated with acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.

2019 - Present Founding Director Concilium Global Network - Geneva, Switzerland

Founded and developed a global network of attorneys specialising in compliance, cross-border investigations and global enforcement defence. Recruited members, developed network governance and chaired meetings of the Board and general membership.

2022 - Present Advisory Board Member Augmetec Ltd. - London, United Kingdom

Legal technology firm offering an automated platform for conducting mission-critical internal and regulatory investigations.

2018 - 2023 Legal and Strategic Advisor Neeka Healthcare - Canada

Served as outside general counsel advising on commercial and risk issues. Member of advisory team guiding management on strategic issues and developing strategy for the digital mental health and wellness platform.

2013 - 2017 Founder & Managing Director Foley Global Risk Solutions

Developed and launched a technology-enabled anti-bribery compliance solution for mid-market companies. Oversaw development of AI-based functionality and managed sales and operations.

Academic and Scholary Interests

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.”

"Lawyer and Strategic Business Advisor" Course Summary

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)

Academic Work & Teaching

Adjunct Professor

University of Wisconsin Law School

2024 – Present

Robot-lawyers will never replace strategic, trusted advisors.

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

Lawyer as Strategic Business Advisor

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

Education

2021 2023 MBA University of Oxford - Saïd Business School, UK

Executive MBA focused on the intersection of law, business strategy and corporate governance.

1991 1994 Juris Doctor (JD) University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

  • Order of the Coif

  • California Law Review.

1985 1989 BA University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI USA

  • Phi Beta Kappa
Dean's List.

Core Competencies

Governance & Compliance

Corporate governance, internal controls and corporate compliance

Strategic advice regarding reputational and governance challenges

Anti-bribery, anti-corruption, FCPA and UK Bribery Act

ESG, including human rights compliance in supply chains

Global Investigations & Strategy

Navigating complex cross-border regulatory and enforcement challenges

Deployment and management of global cross-functional teams

Strategic advice on acquisitions and strategic partnerships

Blending legal and business competencies

Selected Publications

Corporate Governance

Compliance Programs

Global Investigations

Anti-Corruption & FCPA

Strategic Advisory

Get in touch

CONTACT

For inquiries related to corporate governance, compliance, regulatory risk, or speaking engagements, please use the form or contact details below.

David W. Simon

dsimon@foley.com

+1-414-588-6904

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