The Future of Law is Now: A "How To" Discussion of Innovation and Massive Transformation

Mr. LeClair is a co-founder and served for more than 20 years as Chairman (until 2015) and CEO (until 2011) of LeClairRyan. LeClairRyan was founded in 1988 when Mr. LeClair and Dennis Ryan established a securities and venture capital legal boutique to address the special needs of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Mr. LeClair now has returned to the full time practice of law. His practice continues to include the representation of middle market and emerging growth companies, as well as private equity and venture capital firms, as securities and general counsel. He has been the lead attorney in hundreds of private and public financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and other major domestic and international transactions.

Mr. LeClair has served on the board of directors and advisors of various business entities, including a bank, an independent trust company, a private equity fund, a venture fund, a residential developer, an ecommerce business and a retailer.

A believer in community involvement, Mr. LeClair has served on the board of directors and advisors of various civic and not-for-profit organizations, including the Richmond Venture Forum, the Greater Richmond Technology Council, the Virginia Council of CEOs, the Greater Richmond Chamber Foundation, The College of William and Mary, The Steward School, Richmond 2007 and Tuckahoe Sports. He has served as General Counsel for the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Richmond Partnership.

At DXC, Michael is responsible for supporting DXC’s strategic transactions, supply-chain relationships, strategic alliances and partnerships, joint ventures, and intellectual property on a global basis. Michael is also responsible for managing the risk in DXC’s overall portfolio of contracts.

Michael joined DXC from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld where he was a partner and chair of the firm’s outsourcing and technology practice. Michael is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association. Michael has been recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global since 2006 as a leader in the field of outsourcing.

Michael earned an AB from Georgetown University and a JD from the Stanford Law School.

Ms. Jessen has provided strategic and operational consulting services to the legal industry for over 25 years. She works closely with general counsel to develop the vision and structure of the law department to reflect and enable accomplishment of the company’s goals. Her focus also includes operationalizing the vision through a resource plan that balances the use of internal and external resources and the effective deployment of simplified processes and enabling technology. She is known for her depth of knowledge and her passion for driving sustainable improvement with her clients.

During the course of her career she has supported and partnered with the industry-leading organizations, including the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the International Association for Contract & Commercial Management (IACCM) to define and promote industry best practices which raise the understanding and effectiveness of organizations beyond her direct client base.

A recognized practitioner, she served as the practice leader for Huron Consulting’s Law Department Management group and previously provided legal consulting at Arthur Andersen and Altman Weil. Her consulting experience is supplemented with knowledge gained from hands-on experience as the manager of information systems at a high-tech law firm and her work with a software company that designed and implemented financial systems for law firms.

She is a frequent speaker at industry-wide and sponsored events on topics that inspire and educate the audience on how to set priorities, achieve cost savings, successfully implement new systems, drive user adoption of change and articulate the value contribution of the law department.

She received her B.S. in Management Information Systems from Iowa State University.