UNC School of Law’s Center for Banking and Finance hosted the 2024 Banking Institute on March 27-28 at the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, N.C. The annual event, approved for 8.25 hours of general continuing legal education by the North Carolina State Bar, attracted 176 attendees. Since its inception in 1997, the Banking Institute brings together industry professionals, legal experts, government regulators, and students to discuss the most pressing issues in the banking and finance sector.
This year’s institute focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving financial landscape. The two-day event featured diverse panels and keynote addresses tackling topics such as the mitigation of strategic risks in the wake of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, enhancing regulations to prevent future crises, the evolution of bank payments, and managing technological transformation in financial services.
The speaker lineup included prominent figures from major financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and leading law firms. Among the notable participants were double Tar Heel Matt Martin ’04, chief counsel and corporate secretary at First Citizens Bank; Greg Baer, president and CEO of the Bank Policy Institute; and Mitria Spotser, vice president and federal policy director at the Center for Responsible Lending.
Lissa Broome, Burton Craige Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Banking and Finance, praised the Fireside Chats, which featured student editors of Volume 28 of the North Carolina Banking Institute Journal engaging with principal speakers. These included Joshua Almond ’24 editor-in-chief interviewing Matt Martin, Kacie England ’24 for the Clifford Lecture on Consumer Law with Mitria Spotser, and Lauren Pless ’24, managing editor, discussing key issues with Greg Baer during the Beischer Address, named for George ’66 and Susan Beischer, who helped endow the Center for Banking and Finance. The Beischer Challenge, which culminated in June 2011, resulted in a $1,000,000 contribution from the Beischers, matching $1,000,000 in endowment funding raised from firms, banks, and other friends of the Center. Today, that endowment has grown to over $3.2 million, funding the Center’s daily activities and student support initiatives.
The annual Clifford Lecture was established by Carolina Law and friends in memory of Professor Donald Clifford, a faculty member for 40 years who specialized in commercial and consumer law. During this lecture, Spotser and England explored the future of affirmative lending programs, along with potential alternatives to achieve financial fairness following the Supreme Court’s decision in the Students for Fair Admissions case.
Another well-received program component was the Exploring the Banking Institute Journal segments, which featured discussions between journal staff writers and editors about each of the 13 student notes published in Volume 28.
Along with platforming the next generation of banking lawyers, the institute also presented $100,000 in scholarships to 10 exceptional 2L students who will work on Volume 29 of the NC Banking Institute Journal. This substantial support is made possible by generous donors, including Mike Mascia ’98 and his family, and the banks and firms that sponsored the 2024 Banking Institute.
The scholarships awarded include:
- The Professor Lissa Broome Center for Banking and Finance Scholarship: Mady Clahane, incoming editor-in-chief
- The Marion A. Cowell Scholarship: Matt Singleton, incoming articles and notes editor
- Mascia Family Banking Institute Scholarships (five total): Spencer Arrowood, incoming publication editor, Seth Berger, Will Crawford, and Jake Stanley, incoming articles and notes editors, and Macy Cope, incoming institute editor
- NC Banking Institute Sponsor Scholarships (three total): Aparna Konde, incoming executive editor, Noah Lipshie, incoming managing editor, and Dhanya Madugalle, incoming articles and notes editor.
In addition to these scholarships, the Center for Banking and Finance provided significant support for other student initiatives:
- International Enrichment Grants: A partnership with the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany, provided $2,000 grants to offset travel expenses for students participating in a two-week program with Carolina Law faculty and German law students. Additional stipends were provided for unpaid foreign internships with prestigious firms such as White & Case, Gleiss Lutz, and Freshfields.
- Summer Public Interest Grants: $3,600 grants were awarded to students working in unpaid internships in banking and finance-related areas, including positions at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and the N.C. Business Court.
Broome expressed her gratitude for the donors’ support, saying, “There is nothing more rewarding than providing funding to offset the cost of legal education for our rising 3L banking journal editors. Many have commented on how transformative this support is to their fiscal and mental well-being.” She added, “In addition, helping students travel abroad to study and work, or to get hands-on experience here in the U.S. in unpaid internships, also gives our donors the wonderful feeling of helping our students achieve their dreams of becoming legal professionals. These gifts make our law school a special place that is incredibly supportive of students and their professional aspirations.”
Beyond financial assistance, the Center for Banking and Finance also provides enrichment activities each semester to expose 1Ls to transactional and corporate law practice areas. These include the Career Trek, hosted in fall 2023 by Todd Eveson ’00 and Wyrick Robbins in Raleigh, and the annual Dinner and Discussion Forum, which brings together 1Ls and practicing attorneys, many of whom are Carolina Law graduates.
Broome credited the success of the event to the tremendous help from the students, as well as Jacqueline Ward of the Office of Continuing Legal Education and Jennifer De La Rosa from the Center, who both went above and beyond to ensure a successful program.
The 2024 Banking Institute was made possible by the generous support of its sponsors, which included a wide range of prominent banks, law firms, and financial institutions. Their sponsorship not only supported the event but also contributed $61,500 towards the student support previously described.
As a precursor to the Banking Institute, the Center for Banking and Finance also hosted the ABCs of Banking Law, a one-day introduction to banking law that attracted over 40 participants. This event, along with Volume 28 of the North Carolina Banking Institute Journal, highlights the center’s dedication to providing comprehensive education and resources for those interested in the field.
As the financial services industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, events like the Banking Institute serve as essential forums for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Carolina Law’s Center for Banking and Finance remains at the forefront of this dynamic field, empowering the next generation of banking lawyers and shaping the future of the industry.
