Luncheon keynote will address growing responsibilities of the chief legal officer.
For corporate lawyers, it’s the most anticipated event of the year: the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Annual Meeting, where in-house counsel from all over the world engage in three days of intensive seminars designed to help professionals set new standards and raise the bar in governance. This year the event, which runs from September 30 to October 3 at the Orlando World Center Marriott, will feature panelists from over a dozen industries.
Highlights
One of the biggest events is the ACC Leadership Dinner, where the association will recognize leading volunteer members and companies that have made a profound impact on the in-house community. Last year’s award-winners represented corporations such as Hydro One, Reckitt Benckiser and CBS.
At the event’s opening plenary on Monday, the ACC will host its annual ‘ACC chair’s choice’ session. How does this work? A few months prior to this session, the chair announces a topic that will be addressed, so members will have the chance to engage in a timely and focused discussion.
Each year there are new risks and issues that law departments have to deal with, and the ACC’s agenda continues to reflect this. Last year the focus was ‘Corporate counsel under scrutiny: liability for corporate misconduct’, and panelists included Anastasia Kelly, partner at DLA Piper; Sven Erik Holmes, vice chair, legal and compliance, KPMG; John Villa, partner, Williams & Connolly; and Anne Small, deputy general counsel for the SEC.
The agenda
No matter the size of your legal department, there are still topics that in-house counsel will find useful. Compliance and ethics seems to be a dominant theme this year, followed by intellectual property and international business transactions. Other hot-button sessions on the program include social media in the healthcare industry, dealing with tighter energy regulations and handling contract negotiations.
Thinking of expanding overseas but not sure where to start? The session ‘Risks in acquiring international real estate and managing a foreign acquisition or disposition’ will compare US practices with foreign laws to help legal officers understand the challenges involved in operating overseas.
Avoiding scandals is critical to a lawyer’s career, and being able to overcome a major corporate misstep is also important. In ‘How to survive a C-suite scandal’, the speakers will offer practical solutions and use case studies to assist lawyers in their decision-making.
Lunchtime
Monday’s general lunch session will include a panel of top chief legal officers (CLOs). The responsibility of the CLO has significantly increased – CLOs are expected to add value to a legal department’s productivity and help the company move toward its goals. This panel will talk about best approaches and how to manage daily activities, among other key topics. On Tuesday, the general lunch session will be designed to help in-house counsel and CLOs network and engage in meaningful conversations.
The venue
Orlando has plenty to offer for those looking to catch some sun or blow off steam. Just minutes away from the sessions, attendees can plan an afternoon out at Walt Disney World Epcot. And if you’ve had a long day and would like to relax, the Marriott offers 10 on-property restaurants and lounges.
