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c Guenther ('23) is currently vice president of the Business Law Society, a DePaul Law Review board member and is completing his Business Law Certificate. Professor of Law Gregory Mark, who taught Guenther Business Organizations, describes him as “an intelligent, diligent and, most importantly, inquisitive student who asks the right questions. Exactly the right qualities for a law student and lawyer."
Guenther became intrigued with business law in high school, when a class introduced him to various concepts within the field and taught him the value of knowing how the law worked. At Northern Illinois University, he dedicated his undergraduate studies to business management with the ambition of going to law school.
He heard positive comments about DePaul Law from both attorneys he worked for during college, as well as from his aunt (a 1996 alumna). The law school's Business Law Certificate Program further attracted him. "I wanted to take a variety of courses that would most effectively develop my legal skills," he recalls, “and DePaul's Business Law & Tax Law Program provided an excellent experience. Its variety of classes refined my abilities in different but equally meaningful ways."
Since starting at DePaul Law, Guenther recognized the importance of participation. He calls the Business Law Society and DePaul Law Review his “two pillars of success." Through law review, he published his first article, “The Absurd Pandemonium Surrounding SPACs: An Argument in Favor of Legislative and Judicial Reform." As vice president of the Business Law Society, he organizes several events each year, but his favorite is the annual alumni reception, because it is a great opportunity to meet prominent practicing attorneys working in different areas of business law.
Through the law school's On-Campus Interviewing Program, Guenther was offered and accepted a position with his “number one firm" Mayer Brown. As a summer associate, he worked with the firm's Corporate & Securities and Banking & Finance groups. Of this experience, Guenther says, "It was incredible to have the opportunity to shadow different attorney teams on financial and corporate matters, engage in sophisticated transactions with high-level executives and business professionals, and participate in deals spanning a wide range of different industries. My time with the firm was easily one of the most rewarding experiences of my law school career."
This March, he was formally placed in Mayer Brown's Banking & Finance Group, and his long-term goal is to make partner.
Guenther places high value on involvement and networking. He advises student to take part in organizations and journals that can enhance their resumes. He also reminds students to respect the time of attorneys attending networking events. “These are incredibly busy people. The least you can do is send them an email and ask to set up a time to meet; be the one who reaches out first."