Customer Success Story | Gibson Dunn Masters: Developing Capabilities for Complex Advisory Work

At a Glance

To systematically strengthen the development of associates beyond traditional “training on the job,” Gibson Dunn partnered with the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning to create the Gibson Dunn Masters program. The initiative aims to complement legal excellence with business, technological, and personal competencies tailored to the needs of a globally operating law firm.

Since the launch of its pilot phase in 2023, the program has offered practice-oriented seminars and interactive formats covering topics such as business fundamentals, technology, communication, and project management. The content is jointly developed by Gibson Dunn and TUM, combining academic expertise with real-world challenges from advisory practice.

The strong participation rates demonstrate the program’s value. Beyond individual capability development, the program also strengthens collaboration across offices and contributes to a shared firm culture. The program continues to evolve and will be further expanded along strategic competency areas in the future.

Initial Situation and Challenge

To further strengthen the development of associates at the firm beyond existing “training on the job,” Dr. Benno Schwarz, Partner in Gibson Dunn’s Munich office, initiated the development of a continuous professional development program in 2022. The goal was to complement legal excellence with business, social, and technological competencies.

An internal working group was established to identify relevant topics and design the structure of the program over a six-month period. The program officially launched in January 2023 under the name Gibson Dunn Masters.

For its implementation, the firm sought an external partner capable of covering a broad thematic spectrum and providing the academic expertise necessary to deliver high-quality content beyond traditional legal topics. The TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning proved to be the ideal partner. TUM quickly recognized the specific needs of an international law firm and worked with Gibson Dunn to develop a tailored program for the pilot phase.

One key challenge was translating the concrete needs of lawyers and the realities of advisory practice into an academic learning environment. Knowledge transfer needed to remain highly practical and be supported by real case examples, which required thorough briefing of instructors and the consistent integration of real-world cases into the seminars.

Tailored Program Design and Implementation

The curriculum of the Gibson Dunn Masters program was developed in close coordination between TUM and Gibson Dunn. It draws on both the thematic portfolio of the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning and the firm’s specific requirements. Gibson Dunn particularly benefits from TUM’s extensive pool of instructors and the interdisciplinary expertise of the TUM ecosystem.

In 2023, TUM organized in-person seminars on ESG & Sustainability, Project Management, Economic Basics – Accounting & Reading Financial Statements, and Rhetoric, complementing the topics developed internally by Gibson Dunn. Additional webinars were offered on Diversity & Intercultural Competencies and Technological Megatrends.

The program takes place at various locations of both Gibson Dunn and TUM. Each session typically brings together 30 to 40 participants.

Following the evaluation of the pilot phase, the program was further developed both structurally and in terms of content. In the following year, quarterly one-and-a-half-day seminars were held on Robotics, Automation & AI, Economic Essentials: Value-Based Management, Customer Relationship and Rhetoric. In 2025, additional seminars on Change Management and Operations & Supply Chain Management, as well as another rhetoric module, were added.

All in-person seminars are highly interactive and require active engagement from participants. Within a short timeframe, participants collaboratively develop ideas, work on concepts, and discuss practical solutions.

The program not only benefits lawyers from the German offices in Munich and Frankfurt, but there are also select seminars that are attended by colleagues from other European Gibson Dunn offices. In these cases, the sessions are conducted in English.

In 2026, the program will continue to expand along strategic competency areas and adapt to new demands in advisory practice.

Sustainable Value for Practice and Firm Culture

Despite being voluntary, the Gibson Dunn Masters program has received strong engagement. The combination of business, technological, and organizational topics alongside personal development creates tangible value for participants.

Participants engage with topics that may not be strictly legal but are highly relevant to advisory practice. Strengthening business competencies, such as understanding financial statements, value chains, and supply chains has proven especially valuable when advising corporate clients.

A particular focus is placed on developing rhetorical and communication skills. In rhetorical seminars, participants work intensively on their personal impact, argumentation structures, and the clear communication of complex ideas. Whether in client presentations, internal discussions, or negotiations, the practical exercises help participants strengthen their communication skills and gain confidence in their professional presence.

The program also develops project management competencies, helping participants structure complex mandates more efficiently, allocate resources effectively, and lead teams with confidence.

Beyond professional development, the program also strengthens cohesion within the firm and across offices. In 2023 and 2025, selected Gibson Dunn Masters seminars were integrated into a joint lawyers’ retreat, bringing together all legal professionals from the German offices at an external location. As a result, the program not only contributes to individual development but also fosters networking and a shared firm culture.

“With the Gibson Dunn Masters program, we wanted to create a professional development offering that equips our young lawyers with tools that truly support them in their daily advisory work—whether in business understanding, managing complex projects, or communicating with clients. The cooperation with TUM enabled us to translate our specific requirements as an international law firm into an academically grounded yet highly practical learning format. The close integration of academic expertise, interdisciplinary perspectives, and real case examples from our advisory practice was a key success factor. The positive feedback from participants confirms that this approach was exactly the right one.”

Dr. Benno Schwarz
Partner, Gibson Dunn Munich

“The Gibson Dunn Masters program in collaboration with TUM was exceptionally valuable both in terms of content and methodology. In particular, the intensive work on the topic of change management combined strong academic foundations with numerous practical examples and immediately applicable insights—far beyond what one would typically learn in law school or legal practice.”

Dr. Enno Schley
Associate, Gibson Dunn Munich

“The Gibson Dunn Masters program offers me far more than professional training. I particularly appreciate the strong focus on soft skills and personal development. The seminars open up new and creative perspectives and encourage genuine ‘thinking out of the box.’ The rhetoric seminars with a professional actress were especially impressive, as they explored different personality types and communication styles in depth. I was able to immediately integrate many of these insights into my daily work. Overall, the program regularly provides a well-founded and differentiated perspective on key topics of our time and helps us think more entrepreneurially and better understand our clients’ perspectives.”

Melina Kronester
Associate, Gibson Dunn Munich