Four New Members Appointed to Northwestern Pritzker Law Board

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law is pleased to announce the appointment of four new Law Board members. The Law Board is dedicated to advancing Northwestern Pritzker Law and supporting its students. The Board serves in an advisory capacity to help shape strategy and acts as an advocate for the Law School in the legal profession, business community, and general public.

“Congratulations and welcome to our new Law Board members,” said interim Dean Zach Clopton. “Each of them has demonstrated leadership in their field as well as a commitment to our students and community. I look forward to working with them to support the Law School’s agenda over the coming academic year.”

To learn more about the new Law Board members, read their profiles below:

Michael Deal (JD ’94), an Amazon veteran since 1999 and a former Associate at Perkins Coie, transitioned to VP & Associate General Counsel for Global Media and Entertainment. In this capacity, Deal now manages legal, regulatory, and compliance matters for Amazon’s extensive media and entertainment holdings, including Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon Music, Amazon Games, and acquisitions such as Wondery and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Deal’s previous tenure included a focus on Amazon’s Whole Foods grocery chain, which the company acquired for $13.7B, as well as mergers and acquisitions, payments, real estate, ESG, and corporate governance. His leadership facilitated Amazon’s legal strategies in real estate, M&A, and corporate securities and governance. Additionally, Michael was an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, teaching “Law and Leadership”. Prior to their legal career, Michael was a Law Clerk for Hon. Alice M. Batchelder at the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and a Senior Analyst at ISS | Institutional Shareholder Services.

Lauren Fried (JD ’13) is an experienced litigator representing high-profile clients in the entertainment, technology, and media sectors. Her practice includes representing production companies, studios, satellite and network broadcasters and high-profile celebrities and athletes in a range of matters including business disputes, copyright and intellectual property litigation, right of publicity, false advertising, and unfair competition. Lauren has extensive hands-on experience researching and writing dispositive and other substantive motions in state and federal courts, and she works closely with clients to develop and manage case strategies. She advises clients on their most sensitive business matters Lauren has tried multiple cases in both state and federal courts and has represented clients in commercial arbitration. Outside of her entertainment practice, Lauren has experience with eminent domain litigation. Prior to her private practice, Lauren served as associate counsel for Zebra Technologies Corporation and has conducted mediations in Illinois courts for the Center for Conflict Resolution. Lauren is an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law teaching sports law and business.

Jeff Knox (JD ’99), former head of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Fraud Section, is Co-Managing Partner of Simpson Thacher’s Washington, D.C. office and Global Co-Head of the Firm’s Government and Internal Investigations Practice. He represents multinational corporations and independent board committees in high-stakes investigations by several federal and state enforcement regulators. He has advised some of the world’s leading financial institutions, energy companies, life sciences companies, and technology firms in navigating criminal and civil investigations relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, securities and accounting fraud, market manipulation, False Claims Act, antitrust, international money laundering, economic sanctions, and environmental crimes. Prior to joining the Simpson Thacher, Jeff served as a federal prosecutor for more than a decade, including as the Chief of the DOJ’s Fraud Section in Washington, D.C., and before then, as the Chief of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Jeff is recognized as a Band 1 FCPA lawyer by Chambers USA and Chambers Global, and as a “Leading Lawyer” by The Legal 500. Jeff has been named a White Collar MVP by Law360, and is consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation. He is a respected voice on corporate compliance and enforcement policy, and serves on advisory boards dedicated to these issues at NYU School of Law and the American Law Institute.    

Chahira Solh (JD ’06) is a partner at Cromwell & Moring LLP and serves as a trusted advisor on antitrust issues for a number of the country’s most recognizable companies, including in the auto, aviation, health care, and defense industries. Her practice focuses on all aspects of antitrust law, including litigation and government enforcement actions, joint venture analysis, merger control, and affirmative recovery opportunities. By approaching transactional and compliance issues with the eye of a litigator, Chahira is able to provide comprehensive legal and business advice that anticipates issues and mitigates future legal or business risks. Chahira is the chair of Cromwell’s Executive Committee and a member of the firm’s Management Board. She is active in many professional organizations, including serving on the board of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers – Orange County Chapter and the Public Law Center. She has been recognized as a “Southern California Super Lawyer – Rising Star” in Antitrust Litigation since 2009. Chahira was selected for the 2016 Fellows Program of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), a national organization comprised of the legal profession’s top general counsels and managing partners, and continues to be involved in the LCLD Alumni community.