{"id":65173,"date":"2025-12-23T18:49:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/?post_type=alumni-spotlights&p=65173"},"modified":"2026-02-02T11:35:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T17:35:34","slug":"celebrating-new-chapters-catch-up-with-christian-gonzalez","status":"publish","type":"alumni-spotlights","link":"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/alumni-spotlights\/celebrating-new-chapters-catch-up-with-christian-gonzalez\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating New Chapters: Catch up with Christian Gonzalez"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Celebrating New Chapters:
Catch up with Christian Gonzalez<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In June 2025, Christian Gonzalez, chair of Dinsmore\u2019s Corporate Group, was named Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Fifth Third Bank. He succeeds fellow Dinsmore alumna and former Corporate Chair Susan Zaunbrecher, who retired after six years in the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fifth Third wrote in its press release announcing the executive leadership changes, \u201cGonzalez brings extensive experience across corporate, banking, and securities law, as well as mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, capital markets, regulatory compliance and corporate governance. He joins Fifth Third after 15 years at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"double<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How\u2019s the new gig?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Gonzalez<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s been a sprint from day one\u2014and I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. My career has been a steady diet of high-pressure situations, and the training I received at Dinsmore taught me how to stay calm, focus and solve problems when everything seems to be coming at once. I\u2019m comfortable walking into a \u201croom on fire,\u201d finding the oxygen and getting to the right outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s surprised me most is how quickly the pace accelerates when you\u2019re at the executive table. Decisions are made in real time, often not with the opportunity of complete information, and the stakes are higher\u2014not just for the company, but for our customers and communities. I\u2019ve learned that resilience isn\u2019t just about surviving the fire; it\u2019s about thriving in it, adapting quickly and helping others do the same. The ability to remain composed and decisive under pressure is a skill I rely on daily.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How is it different?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Gonzalez<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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At Dinsmore, my role as a practicing attorney was to assess risk and recommend structures. I provided a view of where clients sat along the risk spectrum\u2014every deal has risk\u2014without inserting my own business judgment. Now, as one of eight executives at a Fortune 300 company, I\u2019m expected to deliver both legal counsel and business decisions across multiple functions. The responsibility\u2014and accountability\u2014are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest shift is that I\u2019m now a stakeholder in the outcome, not just an advisor. My recommendations have direct business impact, and I\u2019m expected to weigh legal risk against strategic opportunity. It\u2019s a balancing act\u2014sometimes the best legal answer isn\u2019t the best business answer, and vice versa. I\u2019ve had to develop a broader perspective, learning to speak the language of finance, operations and technology, and to collaborate with leaders across the organization.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What excited you about the Fifth Third role?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Gonzalez<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s a new challenge with real growth. Financial services is a historic, highly regulated industry\u2014but this company is innovating in product, expansion and areas like stablecoin and embedded payments. I\u2019m stepping into a new space, and the bank is, too. That\u2019s exciting. The nuance is that regulation isn\u2019t keeping pace with product innovation, so part of my job is helping teams get comfortable living in the gray\u2014recognizing that clarity is rare, risk is constant and judgment is what carries the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really drew me in was the chance to help play a role in shaping the future growth of the bank. We\u2019re not just reacting to change\u2014we\u2019re driving it. I get to work with talented people who are passionate about building new solutions for our customers, and I\u2019m challenged to think creatively about how to navigate regulatory uncertainty. It\u2019s a dynamic environment where legal and business strategy are deeply intertwined.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Any advice for your former colleagues or those considering an in-house position?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Gonzalez<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Become the indispensable, trusted advisor\u2014and always show up. Relationships, new or longstanding, are never \u201con autopilot.\u201d Clients can feel when they\u2019re not getting your A team. Make people feel seen and supported, even when six other calls are waiting. I\u2019ve already watched firms gain or lose share based on this alone; there\u2019s always someone knocking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In house, the value you bring is measured by your ability to anticipate needs, solve problems proactively and communicate clearly. It\u2019s not enough to be technically excellent\u2014you have to be present, responsive and genuinely invested in your clients\u2019 success. The best lawyers I\u2019ve worked with are those who make themselves indispensable by being reliable, thoughtful and always willing to go the extra mile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What does Dinsmore\u2019s thriving alumni network say about the training at the Firm?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Gonzalez<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Leaving was one of my toughest decisions. I love the Firm. It made me the attorney I am\u2014through hands-on training and early, practical experience. Our lawyers learned to enter \u201cburning rooms\u201d and breathe without catching fire. The alumni track record of in-house leadership speaks for itself and reflects the Firm\u2019s training ground and incubation model. Peer to peer dialogue and knowledge sharing are natural extensions of the way we practiced together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The alumni network is a testament to the Firm\u2019s commitment to developing well-rounded lawyers. I see former colleagues thriving in diverse roles\u2014leading legal teams, driving strategy and making an impact in their organizations. The culture of mentorship and collaboration at Dinsmore doesn\u2019t end when you leave; it continues through alumni connections, shared experiences and ongoing support.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How do you like living in Cincinnati?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Gonzalez<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Relocating with young kids (six and eight) has its moments, but they\u2019re resilient and happy. We\u2019re still house hunting in a tight market, so we are living a bit like gypsies bouncing from one Airbnb to the next. When new people arrive in your city, open doors and connect them. It\u2019s hard to be successful if you feel like an outsider; alumni can make that difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have always felt from my many past visits that Cincinnati has a vibrant legal and business community. I\u2019ve been impressed by how welcoming people are. Building new relationships\u2014both professionally and personally\u2014has been key to settling in. I encourage everyone to reach out, make introductions and help newcomers find their footing. It\u2019s amazing how a simple gesture can make someone feel at home and accelerate their impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In June 2025, Christian Gonzalez, chair of Dinsmore\u2019s Corporate Group, was named Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Fifth Third Bank. He succeeds fellow Dinsmore alumna and former Corporate Chair Susan Zaunbrecher, who retired after six years in the role. Fifth Third wrote in its press release announcing the executive leadership changes, \u201cGonzalez\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-65173","alumni-spotlights","type-alumni-spotlights","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCelebrating New Chapters: Catch up with Christian Gonzalez - Dinsmore & Shohl<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Celebrating New Chapters: Catch Up with Christian Gonzalez, this Dinsmore Alumni Spotlight explores Christian Gonzalez\u2019s evolving career.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/alumni-spotlights\/celebrating-new-chapters-catch-up-with-christian-gonzalez\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Celebrating New Chapters: Catch up with Christian Gonzalez\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Celebrating New Chapters: Catch up with Christian Gonzalez is featured in Dinsmore Alumni Spotlight series, highlighting career paths, professional achievements.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/alumni-spotlights\/celebrating-new-chapters-catch-up-with-christian-gonzalez\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dinsmore & Shohl\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-02T17:35:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/social-media-share.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/alumni-spotlights\/celebrating-new-chapters-catch-up-with-christian-gonzalez\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/alumni-spotlights\/celebrating-new-chapters-catch-up-with-christian-gonzalez\/\",\"name\":\"Celebrating New Chapters: Catch up with Christian Gonzalez - 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