Wayne Law event to focus on helping local entrepreneurs expand globally

Two experts in developing dynamic businesses will focus on how Detroit entrepreneurs can grow globally during a free event Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Wayne State University Law School. "Taking Detroit Global: Helping Local Entrepreneurs Expand" will be presented by Wayne Law's Program for International Legal Studies and Program for Entrepreneurship and Business Law. The event will be from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Lecture Hall 2242 of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at the law school, 471 W. Palmer St. Lunch will be provided. Parking will be available for $7 (credit and debit cards only) in Structure One across West Palmer Street from the law school. Register by contacting Kaylee Place at (313) 577-2731 or kaylee.place@wayne.edu. Speakers will be Paula Levitan, a partner in the technology, entrepreneurial and commercial clients group of Bryan Cave's London office, and Bridget Russo, director of public relations and marketing for Detroit-based luxury-goods producer Shinola. Levitan, Wayne Law class of 1982, has more than two decades of experience managing the international legal affairs of public and private retail and consumer product companies. She acts for a number of retailers (national and international), as well as for a large property development/designer outlet operator with centers throughout the European Union. Levitan previously was a partner in the corporate group of the London office of Arnold and Porter LLP. Prior to joining Arnold and Porter LLP, Levitan's experience included serving as vice president and associate general counsel of Gap Inc., where she was responsible for the legal aspects of all of the company's international expansion efforts. She serves on the External Advisory Committee for the Program for International Legal Studies. Russo has more than 15 years of public relations and marketing experience with fashion and lifestyle brands, focusing on the development and execution of strategic programs and communication platforms to launch consumer products and brand initiatives to the trade, consumer and media worldwide. She specializes in ethical fashion and sustainable trade, in particular Africa-related programs. Russo made a name for herself in the fashion industry for pursuing projects she finds inspiring and that may inspire change in the world. This attitude took her across Africa during her time working with Ali Hewson and Bono at Edun, a company committed to reducing poverty on the African continent through increased trade. She also ran her own consulting company, Passion Projects Consulting, which focused on fashion ventures with a philanthropic angle. Moderating the discussion will be Professor Gregory Fox, director of the Program for International Legal Studies and a widely cited authority on international law and international organizations. Much of Fox's scholarship has focused on how the worldwide spread of democracy has affected the international legal system. Published: Tue, Jan 27, 2015