Michael S. Solender

About Michael S. Solender

Served 25 years as Chief Legal Officer under eight chief executives in four large organizations, including a federal government agency, two large public financial firms and a Big 4 global professional services organization. Built, transformed and oversaw teams of hundreds of lawyers and legal and compliance professionals globally, and personally supervised the successful defense of some of the most high profile and challenging litigation and regulatory matters of recent decades, major transactions like the (uncompleted) separation of EY into public and private companies, and key technology initiatives. Prior to that, handled major litigation and regulatory matters during nearly a decade of private practice as an associate and then partner at a large international law firm. Built close relationships with boards of public and private businesses and the other key constituencies of businesses in this era. Educated and mentored a generation of lawyers, both as adjunct faculty at Yale, Columbia, and Harvard Law Schools, teaching three classes of my own creation over 17 years, and as a supervisor at my employers. Those mentored include my deputy of 27 years who succeeded me as General Counsel at EY when I reached mandatory retirement.

Experience

1. Lecturer in Law (Adjunct Faculty)

   Columbia Law School

   Nov 2017 — Present · New York, NY, US

Education

• University of Oxford

  PPE

  1984 — 1985

• Yale Law School

  Doctor of Law (JD)

  1986 — 1989

• Columbia College, Columbia University

  Bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, Political Science and Government

  1982 — 1986