Lawyer Leadership Summit 2025
Leading ourselves, leading others, and mentoring the next generation
June 20 - June 24
We offer senior legal executives the opportunity to learn management skills and learn to lead with compassion.
Our program equips attorneys with proven methods that amplify their impact as leaders.
This executive leadership summit has three pillars in mind:
1) Provide transformative, out-of-the-box leadership and management training.
2) Shake up patterns in ourselves and in the legal profession.
3) Build a supportive network among top leaders in the legal field.
The Lawyer Leadership Summit is an exclusive, invite-only event for general counsels and senior legal executives. The Summit offers engaging sessions and practical leadership workshops while including ample time for cultural experiences, enjoyment, and networking to develop personal and professional relationships.
Leverage psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and management training to enhance your leadership abilities, learn to drive positive change in the legal profession through compassion, and build your network against the backdrop of an authentic Italian experience.
As an executive and an attorney, this Summit will help you build upon your skills and acumen, increasing your ability to motivate and engage people, teams, and legal organizations, and strengthening your personal resilience to lead them through change as the world around us becomes more uncertain. Self-awareness, empathy, and compassion are critical to exercising leadership and will be central to the Summit’s approach to building your capacity to lead.
The Lawyer Leadership Summit equips you with the refined expertise from brilliant minds to help you make measurable progress towards your goals, and achieve long-term results and lasting success.
This is a moment in time where we are acutely aware of the constancy of change across every vector of our work and lives. The event will provide a memorable opportunity to truly connect with other leaders who are dealing with some of the same issues you are and who are moving forward in their journey.
We have designed aspects of the program and agenda to ensure you will also have the opportunity to engage with the landscape of southern Italy and leave with lasting memories.
Hosted by:
Legal Mentor Network
Lead with Compassion
In collaboration with:
Harvard Law School Executive Education
Experience transformative leadership training and gain connections to enhance your career for decades to come.
WHAT
The leadership summit is designed to be an immersive experience with remarkable people and a focus on helping implement both modern and ancient philosophies of leadership, as well as skills oriented toward refining your own approach to leadership and mentorship.
The opportunity to build genuine friendships and partnerships with dynamic leaders in the legal field to strategize together about ways to overcome challenges lawyers face today.
The program will also open you up to practical ancient philosophy of leadership, and the poetry, mythology, food, music, and wine of Italy.
Opportunity to learn management skills from top professors and leadership experts.
Small town authentic Italian life for 5 days.
Engage directly over the course of five days with renowned leadership experts.
Work together with and gain insights with other GCs and senior attorneys
WHERE
Ischia, directly adjacent to the island of Capri, is an idyllic vantage point on southern Italy where we have the quiet we need to concentrate and build community.
Ischia is amazing, as it combines a deep history – Homer included it as part of Odysseus’ journey in The Odyssey, W. H. Auden composed poetry about it, and it's the first place where the Ancient Greeks landed when they moved to Italy – lovely small towns, beautiful vegetation and nature, the sparkling Mediterranean sea, friendly people, and natural thermal hot springs that relax the body and mind.
It's a wonderful place to spend time at the end of June and meet industry leaders.
According to CNN, Ischia is “the paradise island that offers a taste of the real Italy.”
We believe that nature and physical beauty helps break patterns and open up to a new way of thinking.
Daily Leadership Training with Harvard Law School Professor Scott Westfahl
Director of Education at Harvard Law School
Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School
Professional Development at McKinsey & Company
Professional Development at Goodwin Procter LLP
2009 - 2011 Chair of the Professional Development Consortium
A.B. Government Dartmouth College, 1985
J.D. Harvard Law School, 1988
Scott A. Westfahl is the Director of HLS Executive Education and teaches courses on leadership, design thinking, and innovation within the law school’s J.D. curriculum. In 2024, his J.D. course Legal Innovation Through Design Thinking was recognized by Bloomberg Law as one of the law school innovations of the year. As the Director of Executive Education, he leads the HLS effort to support and develop lawyers as leaders across the arc of their careers, particularly as they advance to new levels of leadership and responsibility. He oversees and teaches in Executive Education’s core, global leadership programs for law firm managing and senior partners, emerging law firm leaders, law firm associates, senior in-house lawyers and general counsel. He also collaborates with HLS colleagues and other Harvard faculty to design and teach custom programs for law firms, law departments, governmental agency legal departments, state and federal judges and other legal-related organizations. He focuses his Executive Education teaching and writing on leadership, teams, talent development as strategy, design thinking and driving innovation and organizational alignment from a talent management and diversity and inclusion perspective.
In 2023 and 2024, Professor Westfahl participated as a keynote speaker and facilitator in major lawyer wellbeing Summits that brought to together in-house and law firm leaders, as well as experts on protecting and promoting mental health and wellbeing. His latest case development and writing are focused on creating a more sustainable legal profession.
Daily Leadership Training with
Harvard Professor Michael Puett
Most teaching awards of any Harvard Professor
Bestselling author of ten books, including The Path
Joint Professor in the Harvard Department of Anthropology and East Asian Languages and Civilizations: Walter C. Klein Professor of Chinese History
Chair of the Committee on the Study of Religion at Harvard University
Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science
Lectures at conferences and universities globally
Ph.D. in Anthropology from University of Chicago
Michael Puett is the Walter C. Klein Professor of Chinese History in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. He is the recipient of a Harvard College Professorship for excellence in undergraduate teaching, the Joseph R. Levenson Memorial Teaching Prize, the Everett Mendelsohn Excellence in Mentoring Award, and the Star Family Prize for Excellence in Advising. He is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science. He is the author of The Ambivalence of Creation: Debates Concerning Innovation and Artifice in Early China and To Become a God: Cosmology, Sacrifice, and Self-Divinization in Early China, as well as the co-author, with Adam Seligman, Robert Weller, and Bennett Simon, of Ritual and its Consequences: An Essay on the Limits of Sincerity. His interests are in the inter-relations between philosophy, anthropology, history, religion, and leadership.
Read his full bio here.
Mentorship Training with Brian Potts, Founder & Board Chair of The Legal Mentor Network
Brian is a partner at an AM Law 100 law firm. What Brian is best known for, however, is being a mentor and a connector. As the founder and board chair of The Legal Mentor Network, he’s passionate about fostering connections across the legal industry as a whole.
As a law student, Brian was rejected by each of the top 100 law firms in the U.S. — including the one where he made equity partner less than a decade later. After posting about this experience on LinkedIn in 2020, he found himself inundated with requests for mentorship. Over the next few months, he built a nationwide network of attorneys willing to mentor law students and recent J.D. grads — which formed the beginning of the now-nationwide Legal Mentor Network. Brian has since connected thousands of mentors and protégés through the program, personally mentored more than 1,000 individuals, and helped thousands of others obtain mentorship.
Most recently, Brian was asked to speak about the UN on mentorship.
Brian is known for his authenticity with clients and his eagerness to serve not only as an attorney, but as a business connector.
Daily Leadership Training and Experience Curated by:
Elizabeth Pyjov, J.D. MTS
Quinlan School of Business Loyola University Chicago Faculty
New York City Bar Well-Being Committee Member
J.D. Harvard Law School
MTS Harvard Divinity School, Theology Degree
B.A. Harvard College, Romance Languages and Literatures
Certification Stanford Medical School, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Pedagogy of Compassion
Experience working with the teams at Baker McKenzie, Carlyle Group, Columbia Medical School, Deutsche Bank, Library of Congress, the New York State Supreme Court, Novartis, Ropes & Gray LLP, & Warby Parker
Elizabeth is a lawyer, thought leader, speaker, and CEO who holds 3 Harvard degrees, speaks 5 languages, has lived in 7 countries, and studied neuroscience at Stanford Medical School.
Her professional experience spans being a funds attorney at Sidley Austin, doing policy work at the United Nations, conducting legal investigations for the New York Attorney General's Office, marketing for Italy's top television station RAI in Rome, and working as a literary translator for Italian Nobel prize-winning author Dario Fo.
Elizabeth combines what she learned about ritual and meaning at Harvard Divinity School, her literature degree from Harvard College, the rigor of Harvard Law School, and her time studying with the Dalai Lama to think outside the box and address modern challenges in the legal world.
She currently runs 3 organizations: Lead with Compassion, Self-Compassion for Lawyers, and Happiness Sangha. She is also Business School Faculty at Loyola Marymount University.
Elizabeth Pyjov's clients include Bessemer Ventures, The Carlyle Group, Columbia Law School, the Library of Congress, the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Supreme Court, Perkins Coie, Ropes & Gray, and Weil Gotshal. She regularly lectures at Harvard Law School.
“We have created a program centered on growth and leadership for high-achieving attorneys, enabling them to shift patterns. For a few days, legal executives are able to shift their vantage point in order to re-evaluate and be strategic about their impact as leaders.”
Attendees 2025
We already have commitments from legal executives working in public/private clean energy, venture capital, private equity, the utility industry, and large financial institutions, including Wells Fargo, Mitsubishi, and Salesforce.
We look for attendees who are leaders in the field of law and are passionate about leading positive change in their profession and the world. This will be a great way to get to know an amazing group of people in a relaxed setting.
“I spent years living in Italy, and the food in Ischia is the most delicious Italian food I’ve ever had.”
L’amore si misura in piatti cucinati – Love is measured in cooked dishes (Italian Proverb)
Wine has been produced in Ischia for almost 3,000 years. It was introduced by the Ancient Greeks in the 8th century BC, and Ischia is still famous all over the world for its wines.
Local Experience
The owner of the villa where we will be staying owns an organic fruit and vegetable farm, and the food we'll be eating is sourced from there.
All the food for the duration of your stay is included. We will eat fresh fruits, vegetables, pasta, and salads as well as meat, seafood, and fish, with vegan and vegetarian options available.
Special dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, allergies, and sensitivities are happily accommodated.
A lot of the food we will be eating is grown in the garden at the villa.
LOCATION
Each guest is allocated a private room in a beautiful villa hotel with daily maid service.
Trainings will take place at one of the two beautiful Italian villas where we will be staying, one in front of the other. The villa hotel includes a rooftop terrace with a jacuzzi, and mineral hot springs are at your disposal on the property, as well as saunas, Turkish baths, and spas. You’ll enjoy the gorgeous views of the island from the rooftop terraces.
You can lounge on the terraces, wind down in the spa, enjoy an Aperol Spritz in the courtyard, and have traditional Italian multi-course meals in the dining room while building the future of what the legal profession becomes.
Excursions around the island on days 2, 3, and 4 are included.
“My goal is to create a truly magical experience for the attendees that impacts their life positively long-term and changes their habits for the better.”
Feedback on Prior Events in Ischia by Lead with Compassion
WHAT’S UNIQUE
Curated attendee list, including top general counsel, legal tech CEOs, and law firm partners from global top 100 firms
To encourage active dialogue and true connection among participants, registration will be limited to 50 attendees
A series of trainings from top Harvard professors and leadership experts
Daily meditation will help you feel alive, connected, and relaxed
This event will help you achieve new levels of compassion, which will help you face professional challenges with new strength
Culture will meet professional networking, and you'll also dive into Greek mythology and Italian poetry
We’ll work on creating a more compassionate legal profession together
OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK
As you enjoy your time on the island you will meet accomplished lawyers who are leaders and changemakers in the field
TRAININGS
The program centers around daily leadership trainings
Trainings will span the topics of leadership of self, leadership of others, and mentoring and will draw from philosophy, anthropology, history, theology, business, and law – see here for complete trainings
Enriching trainings on the culture and literature of Italy will make it easier to connect to both the place and each other
Training Sessions: Curriculum
Day 1, June 20 - We begin at 3 pm.
Practical Philosophy of Leadership Part I: Plato's and Aristotle's Vision on Habits and Practices for Excellence with Harvard Professor Michael Puett (45 minutes)
Motivating Professionals and Building Inclusive Teams with Harvard Professor Scott Westfahl (60 minutes)
Science of Compassion and Compassion for Lawyers with Elizabeth Pyjov (45 minutes)
Vision of Mentorship and Compassion in the Legal Profession with Brian Potts (30 minutes)
Introduction to the summit vision, presenters, staff, and the history and mythology of Ischia (30 minutes)
Day 2, June 21
Practical Philosophy of Leadership Part II: Problem-Solving In A Way That Brings People Together, Secrets of Ancient China with Harvard Professor Michael Puett (90 minutes)
What It Means To Be a Great Mentor: Mentorship for a Compassionate Legal Profession with Brian Potts (75 minutes)
Day 3, June 22
Workshop: Public Narrative with Harvard Professor Scott Westfahl (2 hours)
How Ancient Greek Mythology Makes Us Better Leaders with Elizabeth Pyjov and Harvard Professor Michael Puett (75 minutes)
Day 4, June 23
Morning Meditation for More Energy with Harvard Professor Michael Puett (15 minutes)
Leadership of Self, Freedom from the Inner Critic and Self-Compassion for Lawyers with Elizabeth Pyjov (75 minutes)
Adaptive Leadership and Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in the Legal Profession with Harvard Professor Scott Westfahl (90 minutes)
Day 5, June 24 - We convene at noon.
Practical Philosophy of Leadership Part III: Effective Decision-Making and Training for Impact with Harvard Professor Michael Puett (75 minutes)
Closing Summit Session Achievements, Take-Aways, and Future Endeavors: Group Discussion with Brian Potts, Elizabeth Pyjov, Harvard Professor Michael Puett, and Harvard Professor Scott Westfaul (60 minutes)
“This is not just 5 pleasant days. It’s a launching pad to a new quality of life.”
Curriculum
The curriculum will have 4 parts to it:
1) Leadership of self
2) Leadership of others
3) Lessons and frameworks derived from philosophy, mythology, and history that inform leadership strategies
4) Mentoring
Included
Leadership and management training
Curated excursions around the island
Private hotel room with daily maid service and high speed internet
Dinners with local wines each night
Networking events
Pick up from the airport and drop off at the airport
Boat from Naples to Ischia two ways
Transportation all over the island during your stay
Breakfast, lunch, and five-course dinner each day
Spa access 24/7
Italian culture immersion series
Restorative yoga and mindful movement daily
Opportunities for daily guided meditations
Curated book of Italian poetry from 50 different poets
Connections and strategies to enhance your career for decades to come
Discovering more compassionate paths to innovative leadership strategies
The event fee is $4,800 and will likely be covered by your organization.
Part of the fees go toward supporting the non-profit The Legal Mentor Network, which helps build an inclusive, compassionate legal profession.
This payment can be split up into monthly payments over 6 - 12 months, interest-free.
Here is a letter you can share with your organization to highlight the benefits of the training and receive reimbursement for the summit.
CONTRIBUTION
$4,800 for the entire experience. Everything is included in the Value section above, from the time we pick you up at the Naples airport to the time you leave Ischia. There will be a 5-course dinner each day, lunch out in local restaurants, sumptuous breakfasts, wine at dinner, refreshments upon arrival, leadership training, and the opportunity to meet the best lawyers and leaders in the industry.
REIMBURSEMENT
Most of the leadership summit expenses are typically reimbursed by each attorney’s organization.
Here is language that you can share with your organization:
This invite-only summit is an immersive and transformative experience for leaders in the law. It is developmental from both a networking and a skills-based perspective. The event will include world-class professional development and management training. There will also be leadership trainings by a world-renowned Harvard professor. In all, we estimate that approximately 75% of the event cost will be put towards professional development trainings.
Here is a letter you can share with your organization to highlight the benefits of the training and receive reimbursement for the summit.
DETAILS
Dates: June 20 - 24, 2025
Place: Ischia in Italy
Directions: Fly into the airport in Naples, Italy. There is a direct flight from New York - Naples, for example. You can also fly into Rome and take a 1 hour train ride to Naples. We’ll pick you up at the Naples airport or train station.
Plus One: You are welcome to bring a plus one.
REGISTRATION
Please register below if you:
1) Received an invitation from Harvard Law School Executive Education, or
2) Received an invitation from Elizabeth Pyjov or Legal Mentor Network leadership.
If that is not the case and you want to attend the event, fill in the form here.
We look forward to having you. The registration page is here.
Here is a letter you can share with your organization to highlight the benefits of the training and receive reimbursement for the summit.
Plus one participants are welcome to participate in every part of the event (see itinerary).
This Team Will Welcome You
“Successful lawyers, like successful people in all walks of life, are lifelong learners who never stop growing.”
CLE credits may be available in your jurisdiction.
Photos from 2024
All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. However, if you're unable to attend, we’re happy to offer a credit equal to the amount paid. This credit can be applied toward a future event.