29/11/2022
Canada native Stephen Reed first traveled to the US on an F1 Student Visa, just like many students do in the Executive LL.M. Now, he teaches in this innovative program, offering matchless insights into American business law.
Stephen Reed has been in the legal business for more than 20 years. He joined Princeton University where he graduated cum laude and later, Colombia Law School for his Juris Doctor. Stephen then started out in private practice at international law firm, Proskauer Rose LLP, before embarking on the next step of his professional adventure.
He has been teaching at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law since 2005, making his new home nearby alongside his two children. Undoubtedly, Stephen has carved an impressive reputation in both corporate law and legal education, making him the perfect faculty addition for the groundbreaking Executive LL.M.—a joint LLB/JD program offered in partnership between IE Law School and Northwestern Law, with accelerated sessions in both Madrid and Chicago.
We caught up with Stephen to understand the benefits of this unique executive master, and what the collaboration between these top law schools will mean for students of this LL.M.
What is the importance of the partnership between IE Law School and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law?
Here’s what’s great for students about the collaboration between IE Law School and Northwestern Law: when they graduate from this program, they have a strong business perspective and greater insight into the core of the legal system in the United States.
They wind up walking away with tools that business people have and tools that lawyers have. This makes them better no matter what they do in their careers because they’re armed with everything they need from both sides.
Another thing that’s great for students is that when they graduate, they’ve got a network of alumni from two of the top institutions in the world.
What are the outcomes and benefits of the Executive LL.M.?
When students graduate, they’ve got a whole new way for them to be able to succeed in their careers, whether they’re lawyers in a law firm, business people or lawyers in a corporation. They’ve learned enough things in this program that they can take back to their professional practice. They really will have a better understanding of all aspects of their jobs.
How does this program make an impact on a participant’s professional career?
I teach Business Associations, which is an introduction to business law in the United States. It’s extremely practical for students who are engaged in any kind of legal practice or business because they learn how corporations work, how partnerships work and all these different aspects of American law.
What it means is that when they go home, they’ve got tools and they know how to advise clients who are doing business and international transactions in the US. We have a whole unit at the end of the class where we focus on mergers and acquisitions: it’s really fun but it’s also very practical.
So when the students graduate, they know how to do things, not just how to understand things.
What makes this program unique?
The thing that makes this program unique—and it’s actually my favorite thing about the program—is that the students come from all around the world. They work together, get to know each other and build long-lasting relationships that continue long after they graduate. Speaking selfishly as a professor, I like that they stay in touch with me too. And now I have friends so, no matter where I go in the world, there’s always somebody I can visit.
