The University of Miami School of Law will host Horacio Gutierrez, J.D. '98, as the featured speaker at the Alan S. Becker and Gary A. Poliakoff Preeminent Leaders in Law Speaker Series on March 18. Gutierrez, the senior executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer at The Walt Disney Co., will deliver the lecture, "Artificial Intelligence and the Creative Industries."
The speaker series started in 2021 and was created by the law firm Becker & Poliakoff. It honors the legacy of its founders, Alan Becker, and Gary Poliakoff, by bringing in law experts each semester. The series aims to enrich the University of Miami community by providing insights into the field of law.
Gary C. Rosen, managing partner of Becker & Poliakoff, expressed excitement about the upcoming event. "This is sure to be a great evening," he said. "His extensive experience in corporate law and compliance, combined with his insights into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry, promises to make for a compelling and thought-provoking discussion." Rosen's enthusiasm reflects the anticipation surrounding Gutierrez's visit, as he is known for his significant work in corporate law and compliance.
Gutierrez graduated from Miami Law and has built a strong career in legal and compliance matters across the globe, giving him valuable experience in dealing with complex legal issues.
At The Walt Disney Co., he manages global legal affairs and advises the company's leadership. He oversees litigation, compliance, transactional and securities law, and intellectual property issues.
Before joining Disney in February 2022, he served as head of global affairs and chief legal officer at Spotify, leading teams in various areas such as public policy and industry relations. Before Spotify, Gutierrez was corporate vice president and general counsel at Microsoft, handling global legal matters for 17 years. He has held several senior positions during his career, supporting product development, M&A, and cybercrime prevention.
Gutierrez is also active on the boards of the Motion Picture Association and Kids in Need of Defense, and he holds advanced law degrees from Harvard, the University of Miami School of Law, and Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. At the School of Law he was commencement speaker in 2018, named "Lawyer of the Americas" in 2013, and serves on the advisory board of the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program.
Alan Becker and Gary Poliakoff graduated from Miami Law in 1969. They met while participating in a mock trial competition in law school. Their partnership led to the formation of their law firm, which has become one of the largest in Florida. The firm has been instrumental in shaping laws related to shared ownership housing, and many of the leading cases in the field bear the firm's name.
Today, Becker & Poliakoff, now a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and other professionals, has 15 offices in Florida and locations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The firm remains dedicated to supporting legal education and professional development. The speaker series is a key part of this mission, providing a platform for leading legal minds to share their experiences.
The Tuesday, March 18, 2025, event is free and open to the public with advanced registration. The 6 p.m. lecture will take place in the Gail D. Serota, J.D. '79, Reading Room in the Law Library on the Coral Gables campus.
The event is part of the University of Miami's centennial celebration, commemorating 100 years of breaking boundaries and shaping what’s next. As the University enters its second century, it remains committed to advancing knowledge, and tackling the challenges of tomorrow.
