rotterdam school of management erasmus university General Counsel Executive Programme

International Business Programme for General Counsel

GENERAL COUNSEL EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME The role and position of general counsel (GC), leaders of in-house legal teams and managers of their organisation’s legal risk, have experienced a significant change recently – especially during the global crisis. GC are no longer confined to a reactive role that consists of fighting fires on a daily basis for their organisations. They are expected to be proactive members of the corporate decision-making team and act as change agents. New ways of working are essential; GC have to deliver cost-effective and responsive legal services to their businesses, and the GC’s office should lead the way with technology to drive efficiency and manage change and risk. Now is the time to prepare for these challenges. The General Counsel Executive Programme will teach you how to become a modern legal business leader, and how to prepare for future challenges internally and externally.

The General Counsel Executive Programme, a joint initiative of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) and General Counsel Netherlands (GCN), provides GC with the skills they need to excel in their current and future roles. Its primary focus is not on technical legal skills, but on increasing the GC’s business acumen. The programme, which is aimed at GC around the world, unleashes enormous opportunities for innovation, leadership, and decision-making at the highest levels associated with the GC’s position. These opportunities are increasing as companies become more international, and with compliance, governance, reputation management, privacy and ethics ranking high on company agendas. During 6 modules of 3 days each, spread over 18 months, top instructors will provide you with indispensable knowledge and skills, as well as broad analytical concepts, tools, and the mindset GC members need in the future. In addition, a study trip to Silicon Valley in California will provide you with unique, first-hand knowledge of how technology can increase the effectiveness of tomorrow’s general counsel. You will complete the programme with a tailor-made strategic decision plan, which can be readily applied within your own department and company.

“Change is necessary and new ways of working are essential.” Dr Luca Berchicci, Academic Director

RSM, as one of the leading business schools in Europe, and GCN, as the largest professional network for general counsel and chief legal officers in the Netherlands, are pleased to present this cutting-edge General Counsel Executive Programme. There is no similar programme in Europe. The programme is open for ultimate responsible in-house lawyers with at least 10 years’ work experience. It provides answers to important questions such as:   How can general counsel participate more effectively on chief executive level conversations and influence the process of strategic decision-making in their companies?  How can general counsel develop an essential toolkit of skills in crucial areas such as strategic analysis, corporate governance, internally in their organisation, and leadership?  How can general counsel prepare themselves optimally for the current and future changes in their vocational roles by proactively acquiring a repertoire of highly effective behaviours?

KEY BENEFITS

Who is it for?

Why choose the General Counsel Executive Programme? The programme is the only high-level business programme  designed specifically for the new challenges that general counsel encounter. You will develop deeper knowledge into the business principles  and processes applied in your department and company and broaden your outlook on future legal challenges. You can bring your new perspectives and skills into practice  immediately by developing a customised strategic decision plan. RSM is a leading business school and executive education  institution in Europe. It is the highest-ranking Dutch business school, and 10th in Europe according to the Financial Times European Business School Rankings 2013. The programme’s instructors are all experienced executive educators and highly evaluated faculty members. GCN is the premier platform in the Netherlands where general  counsel meet and share best practices. It introduces innovative ways to enhance communicative interaction between GC and serves as a true platform for sparring and interacting with peers to manage their future challenges.

This top executive programme is geared towards practising general counsel who want to learn more about the business and strategic issues facing their department and their companies, and who seek to develop themselves into more effective leaders of their legal departments. It is also very suitable for GC preparing to assume broader responsibilities, and for those who aspire to transfer to another top general counsel position in the future. You will benefit from the programme if you: work as an ultimately responsible in-house lawyer, such as  general counsel, head of legal, chief legal officer or secretary to the board have completed a recognised university law degree or equivalent  university degree have a minimum of 10 years’ relevant working experience  are motivated to actively participate in an ambitious programme  have an open mindset towards innovation and leadership, and  high ethical standards have a high level of fluency in the English language.  Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the admission requirements.

PROGRAMME FEATURES

International perspectives from experienced faculty The programme has a strong international focus, and includes cases and course topics about international management and the strategic management of internationally oriented enterprises. Its diversity is also reflected by the programme’s instructors, who are leading researchers and experienced executive educators with international backgrounds.

Executive-level management challenge The programme offers academic training and strategic management knowledge, and legal and compliance skills that cannot be obtained through experience alone. It is a valuable opportunity for general counsel (GC) to understand, experience, and acquire the management styles applied in different legal and business environments. It also helps participants develop a strategic vision, analytical skills, and a pragmatic approach as a GC.

Extensive networking opportunities Participants can use the programme to extend their network with high-calibre professionals. RSM and General Counsel Netherlands will organise high-level alumni activities to maintain these relationships after completing the programme.

The programme consists of: 1.5-day kick-off event  six modules of three days each  study trip to Silicon Valley, USA  personal sessions with your strategic decision plan coach  final exam. 

Module 1: C-suite strategic management

Module 3: Reputation management

Lead instructors: Prof. Pursey Heugens and Dr Vareska van de Vrande As the GC function evolves from the traditional role of chief legal affairs towards the contemporary roles of trusted advisor, board secretary, or direct report to the executive board, a better understanding of the corporation’s strategy and organisational design becomes a decisive factor for the GC’s effectiveness. This module delivers the tools you need for this chief executive (C-suite) level strategic analysis and decision-making. You will explore core topics such as: business model analysis and innovation  competitive and industry analysis  internal and capability analysis  competitive strategy  blue ocean strategy  anti-trust and competition law  digitalisation and cybersecurity. 

Lead instructor: Prof. Cees van Riel The quintessential task of the GC in today’s volatile, informationheavy and interconnected economy is protecting a firm’s intangible assets. Especially corporate reputation is one of the most important drivers of consumers’ purchasing intentions, financiers’ willingness to invest, and regulators’ involvement intensity. This is extremely vulnerable unless it is systematically managed. You will explore: the strategic value of reputation  measuring corporate reputation  orchestrating the reputation management function  alignment of communication, organisation, law, and strategy  corporate communication and organisational identity  compliance: ethics and integrity  crises management for GC. 

Key benefits:

Understand the contributions the GC must make to protect 

Become a better conversation partner and advisor to C-suite  decision-makers. Better understand the bi-directional influence between law and  strategy. Develop a vision of the legal boundary conditions of strategic action. 

Key benefits: intangible assets. Acquire the tools for reputation management and reputational  alignment. Learn how to develop and maintain relationships with  stakeholders who play a crucial role in strengthening your firm’s reputation.

Module 2: Corporate development and growth

Module 4: Law department management

Lead instructors: Dr Luca Berchicci and Dr Anna Nadolska Corporate growth is perhaps the most prominent objective for all corporations, and a vital precondition for shareholder confidence among the publicly listed ones. This module deepens your understanding of the drivers and levers of corporate growth, and strengthens your grasp of the principal corporate development vehicles: mergers and acquisitions, franchising, strategic alliances, and joint ventures. You will investigate: corporate growth  entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship  mergers and acquisitions  franchising, alliances, and joint ventures  due diligence and financial underpinnings  contract law as applied to strategic alliances  company law as applied to mergers and acquisitions and  restructurings.

Lead instructor: Dr Marc Baaij The GC is not only the chief legal counsel, but simultaneously the senior executive in charge of managing the law department. However, traditional human resource management and business administration principles do not apply in this context, because a top-notch law department is a shop-in-shop: a professional service firm (PSF) embedded in a corporation. This module unlocks key insights into PSF management, and into the law department and corporate relations. You will learn about: talent recruitment and development  strategic compensation policy  law department performance management  setting KPIs and demonstrating bottom-line value  managing external service providers  labour law  turnaround management. 

Key benefits:

Key benefits:

Become better equipped to be a key player in realising the 

Discover the intricacies of managing staff departments in 

corporation’s growth objectives. Achieve a deeper understanding of the drivers of corporate growth.  Acquire the tools you need for implementing corporate  development transactions like mergers and acquisitions.

line-management dominated corporations. Learn how to attract and develop top-notch human capital, and  how to align them for superior performance. Grasp the operating logic of external service providers, so you  can leverage their offerings to the maximum benefit of the corporation.

PROGRAMME FEATURES

Module 5: The GC function at the heart of corporate governance

Module 6: Leadership and personal effectiveness

Lead instructors: Prof. Hans van Oosterhout and Geert Raaijmakers Corporate governance is about the firm and country level rules within which firms create and deliver value to their stakeholders, such as shareholders, creditors, clients, suppliers, and third parties. In shaping the firm-level governance rules and as a player within these country-level rules, the GC function is located at a critical nexus in the firm where all corporate governance issues come together. During this module you will develop a strategic perspective on the central corporate governance role that the GC plays in contemporary enterprise organisations. You will research: corporate governance: core challenges and practices  corporate governance: combining strategic and legal perspectives  design and maintenance of corporate governance systems  duties, responsibilities, and policies towards shareholders and  stakeholders compliance, fraud, and integrity  legal risk management  litigation and claims management. 

Lead instructors: Dr Meir Shemla and Dr Wendy van Ginkel As the executive manager in charge of the corporation’s law department, the GC is both an external figurehead and an internal leader for the firm’s legal team. To become more efficacious in these roles, the GC must acquire new leadership styles; develop effective leadership behaviours; and gain professional selfpresentation and impression management skills. This module allows you to improve your personal effectiveness by developing these specific skills. You will discover: leadership styles  enhancing follower effectiveness  effective leader behaviours  organisational psychology  boardroom and other team dynamics  broadening boardroom competencies. 

Key benefits:  Learn how to counsel on the development of high-performance  corporate governance systems. Discover the strategic, legal, and ethical dimensions of extant  corporate governance practices. Manage firm-stakeholder relationships and mitigate the risks  associated with contracting, compliance, litigation, and ethics.

Study trip: Silicon Valley Legal technologies  Legal IT tooling  Disruptive innovations  Key benefits: Deepen your understanding of how innovation and  digitalisation will influence your company. Acquire first-hand knowledge about how technology  can transform business models. Learn how to operate as a GC in technology-mediated  environments.

Key benefits: Broaden your repertoire of effective leadership behaviours.  Improve your effectiveness by acquiring readily applicable  leadership skills. Enhance your reflexivity towards your own leadership style. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION Dates:

Programme kick-off is on 19 and 20 November 2015. Please see www.rsm.nl from June 2015 for the module delivery dates. Length: Six three-day modules, a study trip in the USA, and a strategic decision plan, spread over 18 months. Fees: Full programme: ¤ 24,995. Individual modules: ¤ 3,995. When participants switch to the whole programme after completing one or more modules, previously paid module fees will be subtracted from the full programme fee. Fiscal and finance facilities: Available for companies and selffinancing participants, offered in collaboration with XS2TALENT, www.xs2talent.nl. Location: Bayle (J) Building on Woudestein campus, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. Language: English.

Certificate: Issued by Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. Admission: To ensure high-quality participants, applicants will be selected based on their qualifications and experience. Applications and questions by email: Dr Luca Berchicci, Academic Director E [email protected] T +31 10 408 9608 M +31 6 111 99 405 Upon successful completion of the programme you will become a member of the alumni network of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. www.rsm.nl/alumni

www.rsm.nl www.generalcounsel.nl

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is ranked among Europe’s top 10 business schools for education and among the top three for research. RSM provides ground-breaking research and

General Counsel Netherlands is an active and rapidly

education furthering excellence in all aspects of

expanding professional network community and

management. RSM’s primary focus is on developing

addresses the challenges and future needs of General

business leaders with international careers who carry

Counsel, CLOs and other ultimate responsible in-house

their innovative mindset into a sustainable future

lawyers working in international oriented business

thanks to a first-class range of bachelor, master,

environments.

MBA, PhD and executive programmes. RSM also has

GCN serves the professional needs of General Counsel

offices in the Amsterdam Zuidas business district

and is a source for information, education, best

and in Taipei, Taiwan.

practices and networking opportunities.

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)

General Counsel Netherlands

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50

1404 EC Bussum

3062 PA Rotterdam

The Netherlands

The Netherlands

T +6 314106 9433 - Petra van Hilst

T +31 10 408 2222

T +6 311483 7202 - Michiel van Straaten

E [email protected]

E [email protected]

www.RSM.nl

WWW.GENERALCOUNSEL.NL

Accredited by

© 2015 Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. The information in this publication is correct as of April 2015, but RSM reserves the right to make changes affecting policies, fees, curricula, or any other matter announced in this publication without further notice. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission from RSM.

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