Carole Ann Spink
Assistant Professor of Law
Carole Ann Spink is a legal scholar, law professor, and former international employment law partner with over 20 years of professional experience She serves as an Assistant Professor of Law at Barry University’s Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, where she teaches Contracts, Business Organizations, and Employment Law Her career includes senior partnership roles at international law firms, where she focused on employment law issues connected to cross-border mergers and acquisitions Her academic credentials include a Juris Doctor degree with High Honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Master of Science degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
Early Academic Background
Carole began her academic studies at the University of Central Florida, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1992. During her undergraduate years, she was inducted into Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society In addition to completing her coursework, she served as an Academic Peer Advisor in the School of Communications. This role allowed her to assist fellow students with academic planning and provided early experience in guidance and mentorship within an educational setting
After completing her undergraduate education, she pursued legal studies at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law. She earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1997, graduating with High Honors and ranking ninth in a class of 335 students Her academic performance led to her election to the Order of the Coif and recognition as a Kent Legal Scholar. These distinctions reflected consistent academic focus and strong legal analysis throughout her law school years
While attending law school, Carole Spink also contributed to legal scholarship as a Notes and Comments Editor for the Chicago-Kent Law Review This position required detailed legal research, writing, and editorial work. In the summer of 1995, she completed a judicial externship with the Honorable George M Marovich of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois This externship provided firsthand exposure to federal court proceedings and judicial decision-making.
Several years later, she returned to academic study to expand her understanding of global affairs In 2003, she earned a Master of Science degree in International Relations from The London School of Economics and Political Science This graduate education complemented her legal training and supported her later work in international employment law.
Entry into Legal Practice
Her legal career began in Chicago when she joined Jones Day as a Summer Associate in 1996 She then worked as an Associate from 1997 to 1999. During this period, she developed foundational skills in legal research, writing, and client service while working in a large law firm
In 1999, Carole joined Baker McKenzie in Chicago as an Associate. From the beginning, her practice focused on employment and labor law matters with an international scope After a brief period away from the firm, she returned in September 2006. Her professional growth and experience led to her promotion to Partner in January 2011 In this role, she managed complex legal matters and worked closely with teams across multiple jurisdictions
Leadership in Global Employment Law
As a Partner at Baker McKenzie from 2011 to 2019, she became a leader within the firm’s North America Global Employment and Labor Law practice She frequently led transactions involving 50 or more jurisdictions, requiring coordination with local counsel and careful attention to differing legal requirements Her work focused on supporting clients through complex global employment issues while maintaining compliance across borders.
In addition to her client responsibilities, she contributed to the firm’s professional development efforts. She served as the North America Editor for The Global Employer, a publication
addressing employment law developments Through this role, she supported the sharing of legal knowledge and practical insight within the firm.
Pro Bono and Social Impact Work
Throughout her time at Baker McKenzie, she remained actively committed to pro bono work and social impact initiatives One notable effort involved the design and presentation of four cooperative international modules focused on pro bono and social innovation topics This work reflected her interest in applying legal skills to broader societal concerns.
Carole Ann Spink also served as Team Leader for a significant pro bono collaboration with Accenture, Caterpillar, and Merck as part of PILnet’s Empowerment of Women in Nepal project. This initiative involved a team of 70 lawyers from 11 countries and aimed to support legal and economic empowerment for women The project received the 2010 Corporate Pro Bono Partner Award from the Pro Bono Institute, recognizing the collaborative effort and impact of the work.
Partnership at McDermott Will & Schulte
In 2019, she joined McDermott Will & McDermott (Now McDermott Will ^ Schulte) in Chicago as a Partner in the Employment practice group In this role, she advised clients on both domestic and global employment law matters Her responsibilities expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by rapidly changing legal conditions.
During this time, Carole Spink served as Co-Chair of the firm’s COVID-19 Task Force and acted as the founding author of the firm’s Pandemic Resource Center. These responsibilities included coordinating legal responses and developing practical guidance to help clients address pandemic-related employment challenges.
Transition to Academia
After more than two decades in private legal practice, she transitioned to legal academia, bringing practical experience into the classroom. In August 2024, she joined Barry University’s Dwayne O Andreas School of Law in Orlando, Florida, as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law
During the 2024–2025 academic year, she designed and taught two sections of Contracts for first-year students in the fall semester In the spring semester, she developed and taught an additional Contracts section and a Contracts Drafting course for upper-level students These courses emphasized core legal principles and applied drafting skills.
In August 2025, Spink was appointed Assistant Professor of Law at Barry University In this position, she teaches Contracts, Business Organizations, and Employment Law, continuing her work in legal education and student instruction
Earlier Teaching Experience
Her academic background includes earlier teaching experience at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law From August 2004 to May 2006, she served as a Westerfield Fellow, teaching legal reasoning and appellate advocacy to two classes of 25–30 first-year students. This role helped shape her approach to teaching legal analysis, writing, and advocacy skills
Professional Credentials and Practice Focus
Carole Ann Spink is admitted to practice law in Illinois, where she was admitted in 1997, and in Florida, where she was admitted in 2022 Throughout her career, she has advised clients on domestic and cross-border employment law matters, with a focus on global corporate reorganizations and outsourcing transactions. Carole Ann Spink continues to apply her professional experience to her teaching and scholarly work in employment law