The Executive LL.M. celebrates 20 years with memorable graduation ceremony in Chicago

This year, IE Law School and Northwestern Pritzker School’s joint Executive LL.M. celebrates its 20th anniversary. The milestone was honored at the program’s recent graduation ceremony at Northwestern’s campus in Chicago—where graduates received recognition for completing an innovative, transatlantic education. 

The Executive LL.M. is a transformational program for practicing legal professionals. Focusing on the intersection of business and law, the Executive LL.M. comprises hybrid online study and in-person classes at IE Law School and Northwestern Pritzker School. 

Hari M. Osofsky, who served as Dean for the Class of 2025, opened the recent graduation ceremony by thanking students for their commitment to fostering positive change in law. She also emphasized the need for globally minded legal practitioners in a shifting political landscape. 

"In these polarized and challenging times around the world and within our own country, the importance of law and the value of ethical leadership could not be clearer," said Osofsky. "Our graduates began their journey with a pledge of professionalism—commitments to service without prejudice, integrity without compromise, and to uphold the principles of justice handed down by generations of attorneys. Today, they graduate with a shared understanding of their duty to act with character and virtue, especially as they face a legal landscape filled with complex challenges."

Graduates expressed their excitement to return to work with new outlooks. Philipp Staudigl, a real estate associate at Schoenherr Attorneys, says the Executive LL.M. offers something other schools can’t: "I researched before starting the program, and this is the only one that allows you to see two different universities from the inside. I’m happy to return to my law firm, where I’ve been working for five years, to a promotion."

Similarly, graduate Natalia Acevedo Rodríguez from Bógota highlighted the cultural richness of the program. "Experiencing two completely different cultures—Spain and the United States—has been incredible," she said. "I built a strong international network of peers from diverse industries and legal backgrounds, which is a major advantage moving forward."

According to corporate lawyer Mack Cleam Peña Argandoña, the program’s flexibility makes it perfect for practicing professionals. "The combination of online classes and intensive in-person sessions in Chicago and Madrid was ideal," said Mack. "It allowed us to continue working in our home countries without sacrificing the depth of the coursework."

IE Law School and Northwestern look forward to the success of past, present and future graduates. As the Executive LL.M. continues to build its legacy, the Class of 2025 will play their role in leading change in global legal practice.