Lunch with a Lawyer November 2026 Panel
Defining Your Career Journey
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
12:15 PM
Law School, room 2242

Wayne Law students are invited to attend our Lunch with a Lawyer series, presented by the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs.

This session features a candid conversation with panelists, designed to help current law students define their carer journey and learn firsthand from Wayne Law alumni. 

About the Panelists:

Julie L. Kosovec '95 is a seasoned attorney whose practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, including shareholder, employment, construction, and real estate disputes. A 1995 Wayne Law graduate, she has built an extensive career in private practice, representing corporations, executives, and other clients in high-stakes litigation and business disputes. Her experience includes major commercial, antitrust, employment, and bankruptcy matters, including participation in cases resulting in judgments and settlements valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Kosovec has also been recognized extensively for her work in commercial litigation and leadership within the legal community, offering students a perspective on building a long-term career in private practice and complex litigation.

Evan Leihban '07 is a partner at Honigman and leader of the firm’s Private Equity Practice Group, where he represents private equity firms, family offices, founders, and other businesses in complex transactions. A 2007 Wayne Law graduate, he has advised on and closed more than 500 acquisitions and sales across a wide range of industries, with transaction values ranging from several million dollars to more than $1 billion. His practice provides a unique look at the transactional side of law, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, financing, and business strategy. As a former Wayne Law Review editor and Order of the Coif member, Leibhan can also speak to the ways law school experiences can shape a career in corporate law.

Nicholas Schroeck '07 is dean and a professor of law at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a nationally recognized environmental law scholar and advocate. He began his legal career working with organizations including the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Great Lakes Commission before moving into legal education. Schroeck joined the Wayne Law faculty in 2010 and taught there for eight years before joining Detroit Mercy Law in 2018, where he has served in faculty and administrative leadership roles, including leading experiential education programs and launching an environmental law clinic. His career offers students a compelling example of how a law degree can lead to public-interest advocacy, clinical practice, scholarship, and legal education.

Robert Spence '82 has built a 44-year legal career spanning judicial clerkship, private practice, in-house counsel, business development, corporate leadership, and board service. After graduating from Wayne State in 1982, he began his career as a federal judicial law clerk and trial attorney before transitioning to in-house practice, where he eventually served as general counsel and senior executive for publicly traded and privately held companies. His work has included litigation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, business growth, labor relations, and transactions around the world. Now serving as a consultant and director on public and private company boards, Spence brings a particularly valuable perspective on how a legal career can evolve over time and open doors well beyond traditional legal practice.

Lunch will be provided for students who register in advance. The registration deadline is November 2. Space is limited. Walk-ins are welcome at the event, but lunch may not be guaranteed. For questions, please contact Wendy Wippich (hm6866@wayne.edu).