GGI Event Reviews
GGI Practice Group Global Chairs Meeting in Zurich, Switzerland
GGI NA Best Practices & Developing Leaders Conference in Fort Worth, TX, USA
It may have been winter in Switzerland, but nothing was going to stop the Global Chairs of our Practice Groups from coming together in Zurich for their annual meeting. With several new Chairs in place, it was a great time to not only share visions for the upcoming year but also to exchange best practices.
This year, we were able to celebrate the first women voted into Global Chair positions at the last elections: Feliza Bahamonde (Visa and Go, Chile) leading the GGI Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) Practice Group and Leslie A. Berkoff (Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, USA) leading the GGI Litigation & Dispute Resolution (LDR) Practice Group. We were also happy to have first-timers Prof Dr Michel De Wolf (DGST Réviseurs d'entreprises, Belgium), newly elected Global Chair of the GGI Auditing, Reporting & Compliance Practice Group, and Dr Peter Wagesreiter (HSP Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Austria) for the GGI Corporate Governance & Compliance Practice Group, as well as Global Vice Chairs attending on behalf of the Global Chairs who were unable to make it to the meeting: Ioana Hategan (Hategan Attorneys, Romania) for the GGI Best Practices for Professional Services Organisations Practice Group, Diane Walsh (Prager Metis International, USA) for the GGI Business Development & Marketing (BDM) Practice Group, Claudio Ceradini (SLT Strategy Legal Tax, Italy) for the GGI Debt Collection, Restructuring & Insolvency (DCRI) Practice Group, Anastassia Dambrouskaya (Sandberg Phoenix & Von Gontard P.C., USA) for the GGI M&A Practice Group.
The “older” cohort were certainly able to share their knowledge and experiences from leading their Practice Groups through the last leadership terms, familiar faces such as Ady Nordman (Soroker Agmon Nordman Riba, Advocates & Patent Attorneys, Israel) for the GGI Corporate & Tech Practice Group, Steve McCrindle (Prager Metis International, USA) for the GGI Indirect Taxes Practice Group, Oliver Biernat (Benefitax GmbH, Germany) for the GGI International Taxation Practice Group (ITPG), Andrzej Tokaj (Penteris, Poland) for the GGI Real Estate Practice Group.
In the spirit of a proper Swiss winter dinner, the group had fondue at the Welcome Dinner on Friday evening, and in keeping with tradition, the Closing Dinner was held in the Storchen Hotel – with a terrific view over the Limmat River and the Grossmünster – on Saturday evening.
But perhaps the most fun we had during the team-building session, where the group learned to make cocktails and mocktails, including one called the Baron Reiss von Filski – from Michael's younger days in Zurich's Kronenhalle.
by Hallie Vasseur
McDonald Sanders Law Firm was honoured to host the GGI North American Best Practices & Developing Leaders Conference for the first time in the firm’s history. Held from 30 January - 01 February, the conference brought together legal and business professionals from 21 states and 8 countries for an engaging and insightful event focused on leadership, communication, and professional growth.
The event featured a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Former US Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, and the city’s own Four Day Weekend comedy group. Pete Geren’s keynote, “Lessons I Learned from Great Leaders in a Time of War,” offered invaluable insights on leadership, resilience, and decision-making in high-pressure situations, leaving a lasting impact on all attendees.
Mayor Mattie Parker represented Fort Worth exceptionally well—her opening remarks about our great city left a strong impression on everyone. Additionally, Four Day Weekend’s keynote was a big hit! Their interactive “Yes, and…” session highlighted the importance of listening and supporting one another in business. Jonathan Fitzgarrald’s keynote on "Persuasion – How to Get Your Way More Often" was insightful, diving into the four different persuasion profiles and how to effectively relate to each one.
McDonald Sanders attorneys George Haratsis and Grant Sorenson led a compelling session on Effective Communication & Managing Client Expectations, emphasizing that while there is no single correct way to communicate, clarity and candor are essential in fostering strong professional relationships. Additionally, John Wright and Tom Campbell facilitated an engaging discussion on Delegation of Work, sparking thoughtful dialogue among attendees about optimizing workflow and efficiency.
Other key topics covered during the conference included Mental Wellbeing in Professional Service Firms, with John D. Bowers moderating a panel that highlighted the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being within the industry. Sarah Sawyer led an impactful discussion titled “What Are You Doing to Develop Your Leaders?”, prompting valuable conversations about leadership development and career growth, and Marianne Lee (Director of Attorney Development and Origination Culture at Offit Kurman) shared valuable insights on Developing Your Firm's Origination Culture. Her session sparked meaningful discussions on fostering growth, enhancing collaboration, and building a strong, performance-driven culture within firms.
Firm President John Wright shared one of his key takeaways from the conference, stating, “One of the most remarkable statements that I've taken away was that the number one core function of being a leader is making new leaders.” This sentiment resonated strongly with attendees, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and leadership development in professional settings.
McDonald Sanders, P.C., Attorneys at Law, established in 1951, is one of the oldest and most respected law firms in Fort Worth, Texas. The firm provides a full range of legal services to businesses and individuals. Known for its deep roots in the community and commitment to client success, McDonald Sanders continues to be a trusted partner for legal excellence.
We are incredibly grateful to all our speakers, panelists, and attendees who made this event a success. Hosting this conference was an exciting opportunity for McDonald Sanders, and we look forward to continuing to foster leadership and innovation in our profession.
Did we forget to tell you that we got to go to the rodeo?
