Events

NALP Conference 2026 Happy Hour in Hollywood, FL

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NALP Happy Hour

This year’s National Association for Legal Placement (NALP) conference is taking place in Hollywood, FL from April 14 – 17. PeoplePath will be hosting a happy hour on Thursday, April 16th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at Le Tub for alumni program managers and their colleagues. 

Please come and enjoy drinks & appetizers after a long day of sessions and get to know other practitioners. Le Tub is a short, 6-minute car ride from the Diplomat Hotel.  We’ll have a private space right on the water!  

If you intend to attend the conference and wish to join us, kindly RSVP below at no cost.  

For those attending the conference, check out the three corporate alumni related sessions being held (will need to be registered for the conference to attend): 

Time & Location

Thursday, April 16th: 4:00pm – 6:00pm EST

Le Tub
1100 N Ocean Dr 
Hollywood, FL 33019 

Register Here

Corporate Alumni Related Sessions

Wednesday, April 15
10:45 – 11:45am

Built to Last: Alumni Program Lessons from Higher Ed and Finance

Universities have been cultivating alumni communities for over a century, and financial services firms like Goldman Sachs and J.P Morgan pioneered corporate alumni programs long before the legal sector caught on. This panel explores what law firms can learn from both the educational and finance worlds — including data management, community-building, and the business impact of long-term engagement. Panelists will share their perspective on Alumni Relations that drive brand ambassadorship and client development.

Philip Sanford, Alumni Relations Manager, Freshfields LLP 
Sheri Mayerowitz, Director of Alumni Relations and Client Engagement, Akin 
Emily Bronstein, Manager, Alumni Relations, Fried Frank 
Veronica D. Paricio, Senior Manager, Strategic Alumni Engagement & Client Relations, Goodwin Procter LLP 

Thursday, April 16
1:30am – 12:30pm

From Insight to Action: Trends Shaping Alumni Relations

Five years on from the original session, 'To Infinity and Beyond: Perspectives on the Evolution of Law Firm Alumni Relations,’ a panel of alumni relations leaders will provide fresh insights on the current state and anticipated growth of alumni relations roles and programs at law firms. Drawing on findings from a new nationwide survey of alumni relations professionals and revisiting the same core questions — updated with today’s most relevant considerations — panelists will offer a comprehensive overview of how firms are approaching alumni engagement today and where the field is headed.

Debby Cusumano Caldwell, Director of Alumni Relations, Winston & Strawn LLP
Adrienne Kelly, Global Director of Alumni Relations, McDermott Will & Schulte
Matthew Pascocello, Career Transitions Advisor, Akin

12:30pm – 1:45pm

Innovative Talent Acquisition: Harnessing Branding, Marketing, and Communications

In today's competitive legal recruiting landscape, effective talent acquisition requires more than traditional recruitment methods. This session explores how law firms can leverage dedicated branding, marketing, and communication professionals to attract top-tier talent. This session will provide actionable insights into creating a compelling employer brand, utilizing recruitment marketing techniques to enhance visibility, and employing communication strategies to engage potential candidates. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on integrating these elements into their recruitment processes, ensuring their organizations stand out in the crowded legal market and successfully secure the best candidates for their teams.  

Marsha Nagorsky, Senior Manager, Attorney Recruiting Marketing & Alumni Relations, Wilson, Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Jenny Li, Senior Employer Branding Manager, Morrison Foerster 
Hiroko Peraza, Senior Manager, Lawyer Talent Acquisition & Outreach, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP 
Lauren Mas, Communications Senior Manager - Global Attorney Recruiting, Latham & Watkins 

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Succession Planning for Your Partners, Your Team, or You!

Succession planning poses daunting challenges — whether you’re a firm’s Alumni Relations professional supporting sunsetting senior partners, a manager helping a staffer moving toward retirement, or preparing yourself and your team for a smooth transition as you plan the next (or last) chapter in your own professional journey. Need both global and granular advice and strategies for universal succession planning best practices? Hear from a panel of experts — an lawyer transition coach, a Global Alumni Relatins & Lawyer Experience professional, and two of NALP’s Retirement Advising Network (RAN) leaders — on how to get started, set goals, motivate others, and/or ready yourself to move forward.

Tom Schoenherr, Assistant Dean, Public Interest Resource Center (Retired), Fordham Law School 
Stephen E. Seckler, President, Seckler Attorney Coaching
Irena McGrath, President, McGrath Talent Strategies
Laura Karmatz, Senior Director of Global Alumni Relations and Lawyer Experience, Reed Smith

Friday April 17, 2026
10:30am – 11:45am

Alumni Relations Tech Toolkit: What Works and How to Use It

This session highlights how alumni professionals are solving problems with technology through practical, collaborative approaches — whether by partnering with internal teams like Project Management Offices (PMOs), leveraging CRM tools to strengthen data management and engagement, using LinkedIn to track alumni career transitions, or experimenting with AI driven solutions. Attendees will walk away with actionable takeaways and best practices that alumni teams can implement right away.  

Denita Acker, Senior Global Project Manager, Winston & Strawn LLP 
Joseph Groot, Head of Commercial, VMock 
Catherine Miller, Alumni Relations Coordinator, AkinÂ