Goodwin Alumni Week

Our annual Goodwin Alumni Week is specifically dedicated to shining the spotlight on our alumni program and the people who have made our firm successful. Through Goodwin Alumni Week and other year-round initiatives, we strive to amplify, build, and connect our extensive alumni network to foster lifelong connections between Goodwin alumni and current employees.

Explore our hub to view what was featured during this year's Goodwin Alumni Week and how our alumni network stays connected to the firm and each other.

For more information about how to become involved in Goodwin Alumni Week opportunities, please visit the Goodwin Alumni Community Portal or contact the Alumni Engagement Team at DG-Alumni@goodwinlaw.com.

Goodwin Alumni Community Portal

Join the Goodwin Alumni Community portal to connect with current and former colleagues, browse exciting job opportunities across numerous industries, and learn about firm news, events and programs, along with programming specifically designed and created for alumni.

Visit the Alumni Portal

Past Alumni Week Events

Expand the drop downs to view details from previous Alumni Weeks.

Goodwin Alumni Authors Corner

Goodwin has a number of successful authors among its alumni. Our panel of distinguished alumni authors shared what inspires them to write, what it’s like to navigate the writing process as first-time authors, and how they balance writing with a legal career. Featured alumni authors included:

Daniel Dain
A History of Boston

Daniel Medwed
Barred: Why the Innocent Can’t Get Out of Prison

Tracy Sierra
Nightwatching*

*Selected as the featured book in Jimmy Fallon’s spring 2024 Fallon Book Club!

Volunteerism Event: Martha’s Table

Goodwin alumni joined former Goodwin colleagues to support access to healthy food and volunteer at the Grocery Market. As market volunteers, they supported shoppers with their groceries, restocked inventory, and interacted with community members.

Volunteerism Event: Foster Love

Goodwin alumni joined former Goodwin colleagues to decorate Sweet Case duffle bags for children in foster care. Many children entering foster care receive a trash bag to gather their belongings and move to their new homes. Sweet Cases help children enter foster care with the dignity they deserve.

Fireside Chat: Goodwin Alum James Parker and Firm Chair Anthony McCusker

Goodwin’s Chair Anthony McCusker led a discussion with Goodwin alum James Parker, general counsel for the Boston Celtics, on James’ career trajectory and how his time at Goodwin prepared him for his in-house career as general counsel for the Boston Celtics.

Volunteerism Event: National Park Service

Goodwin alumni joined former Goodwin colleagues at one of our national parks for a morning of cleanup and beautification.

Volunteerism Event: Humane Rescue Alliance

Goodwin alumni and former Goodwin colleagues made snuffle mats for rescued animals. These interactive mats allow animals to sniff out hidden treats. Fun challenges like snuffle mats help keep animals happy and engaged while they wait to be adopted!

Goodwin Alumni Family Day at the Boston Red Sox

Rounding out Goodwin Alumni Week 2024, our alumni and their families enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at Fenway Park to watch the Boston Red Sox play the Washington Nationals.

A View from the Senior Seat: Goodwin Alumni in Senior Counsel In-House Roles

Our panel of Goodwin alumni serving in senior counsel roles at various corporations discussed their time at Goodwin, the differences between being in-house versus at a law firm, what they think law firms do well (...and not so well), what career advice they would share with others considering a similar career transition from a law firm, and more.

Panelists:
Kristy Coleman, Senior Counsel, Airbnb
Amy Danzis, Assistant General Counsel, MetLife
Jodi Kalagher, Senior Counsel, Philip Morris Global Brands Inc.
Vivian Wong, Principal Counsel and Senior Manager, Apple Pay & Wallet

Making the Leap: From Practicing Lawyer to Business Professional

Alternative legal careers are on the rise and provide an opportunity for lawyers to be impactful in careers outside of the billable hour.

Our dynamic group of Goodwin alumni, who pivoted from traditional legal practices to unique and interesting professional roles across industries, discussed how they were able to identify their interests outside of law and make the leap to pursue opportunities that have allowed them to leverage their legal backgrounds along with other technical and transferable skills. Panelists also shared their thoughts on transitioning from a practicing lawyer to a business professional in non-traditional legal roles and provide career advice for anyone considering an alternative path

Panelists:
Katie Aldrich, Director of Coaching and Program Strategy, Fringe Professional Development
Heather Dietrick, CEO, The Daily Beast
Stephanie Dworkin, Director of Client Success, Paladin, PBC
Lisa M. Kahlman, Executive Director, Public Policy and Public Affairs, Ultragenyx
Nicholas Reider, Senior Vice President, Deputy D&O Product Leader – West, Financial Services Group, Aon
Arianne Waldron, Attorney, First Circuit Court of Appeals

A Fireside Chat with Goodwin Alum Jason Kwon, General Counsel, OpenAI and Goodwin Firm Chair-Elect, Anthony McCusker

Goodwin Chair-Elect Anthony McCusker sat down with Goodwin alum Jason Kwon for a fireside chat discussing Jason’s career trajectory and how his time at Goodwin prepared him for his in-house career as General Counsel at OpenAI. Jason spoke to his personal legal journey and all things AI, including how AI will continue to drive our society in unforeseen ways, how it is changing our relationship with knowledge, and what this technology means for us all.

Goodwin Alumni Family Day at The Boston Red Sox

Play ball! Our alumni and their families spent the day at Fenway Park to watch the Boston Red Sox take on the St. Louis Cardinals.

Perspectives

Have you ever wondered what some of the biggest differences — and even similarities — are between working at a law firm like Goodwin and practicing law at a company? See what our alumni have to say.

I loved what I was doing and who I was working with at [Goodwin], but I was approached with the opportunity to go in-house, and I thought that, for me and my personality, in-house would be a good fit. I like being involved in deals from the initial stages through consummation and integration. On a macro level, I enjoy being part of the business, developing relationships throughout the organization and helping the company achieve its strategic goals and objectives.
Michael Heistein
Senior Vice President and Corporate Compliance Officer of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

In terms of coming back to Goodwin, I always kept in touch with people. That is my biggest advice – keep in touch with people you like and enjoy working with. Make sure you maintain relationships, especially with good bosses. You do not want to lose touch with them. Networks are really important and they could help you pursue an opportunity that becomes relevant to you in a way you never could have guessed.
Danielle Reyes
Partner, Goodwin

One of the things that we talk a lot about internally here is the balance between the important and the urgent. The important are the long-range, dedicated matters; the things that are going to define the course of history for the family and for our investment program. And then there is the urgent – any type of need that bubbles up on a daily basis, and which can be more of the fire drill variety. We always need to keep an eye on that and make sure that we are moving the important forward at the same time that we are managing the urgent.
Jay Sullivan
General Counsel at Sutton Place Investments

Connect With Our Alumni Team

To learn more about our alumni program and get involved, visit our website or contact us at DG-Alumni@goodwinlaw.com.