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ӣ����Ƶ will welcome students to its 14th annual Business Boot Camp from January 5–8, 2026, a four-day intensive program designed to teach law students to “think like a businessperson” as well as a lawyer. 

Professor Michael Gerber, the Michael Simmons and Michael Gerber Professor of Law, directs the program with John Oswald ’84, president of Capital Trust Group, president and CEO of Bridge Management East, and a member of the BLS Board of Trustees, in collaboration with Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory. This year, approximately 75 students are expected to participate in Business Boot Camp.  

"Law schools are well known for training students to think like lawyers, but there are times when practicing lawyers need to reach outside the traditional legal toolkit and think like a businessperson, and that is where our Business Boot Camp comes in," Gerber . 

A leading expert in bankruptcy law, the author of a widely used Chapter 11 casebook, and a contributing author of Collier on Bankruptcy, Gerber brings decades of expertise in corporate governance, intellectual property, and international insolvency law to the program. He is a member of the American College of Bankruptcy. At ӣ����Ƶ, he and David M. Barse Professor of Law Edward Janger co-direct the Barry L. Zaretsky Fellowship Program, which produces the Zaretsky Roundtable, bringing together judges, practitioners, and scholars to discuss and debate cutting-edge bankruptcy issues. Gerber has served at the Law School as interim Dean, Associate Dean for Development, and Associate Dean for Finance and Administration.  

A Hands-On, Real-World Curriculum

Business Boot Camp is taught by BLS faculty and a team of Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory professionals, along with BLS alumni who are leaders in the business and legal community. Students explore a wide range of topics, including the development of business plans, types and sources of financing, capital budgeting, valuation, artificial intelligence, reading financial statements, and mergers and acquisitions. The syllabus is based in part on an intensive course Deloitte developed for first-year law firm associates.  

Program Highlights

The program features multiple opportunities for students to learn from accomplished alumni and industry leaders. Highlights include: 

Keynote Conversation: , CEO of Crow Holdings, will be interviewed by President and Joseph Crea Dean David D. Meyer, discussing his career in real estate, investment management, and entrepreneurship. 

Alumni Lunch Conversations: Students will engage with alumni over lunch. , Managing Director and Global Head of Anti-Bribery and Corruption Compliance at Deutsche Bank, will participate in a lunch interview with Gerber. Another lunch session will feature , (retired) executive leader of Deloitte’s Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Sanctions practice, interviewed by John Oswald ’84. Curry, who helped co-found Business Boot Camp, brings extensive experience navigating complex global financial crime and regulatory issues. 

Networking and Career Insights: Throughout the week, students will have multiple chances to meet with alumni who represent large and small businesses, as well as entrepreneurs, in informal breakout sessions and networking events. 

Bringing Business to the Law Classroom

Business Boot Camp emphasizes practical knowledge and real-world application. Students will explore financing options—from equity and debt to hybrid structures—gain a foundation in accounting and taxation, and learn strategies for buying or selling businesses, as well as valuation techniques. Sessions on blockchain, digital assets, and generative AI ensure students understand emerging trends shaping the business and legal landscape. 

The four-day program concludes with small breakout sessions led by alumni and faculty, followed by a networking reception for students, alumni, and the Deloitte team.