ACC HOUSTON EVENT ATTENDANCE POLICY
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global bar association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for and whose primary responsibility is providing legal advice to corporations, associations and other private-sector organizations. Accordingly, the ACC Houston Chapter reserves the right to limit attendance at any of its Continuing Legal Education (CLE) events to ACC Houston Chapter members or non-ACC chapter member in-house attorneys only. If you are not an in-house attorney and wish to attend a CLE event, you may only do so, space permitting, if you are accompanied by an in-house attorney from your company or organization.
ACC HOUSTON EVENT CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY
The Association of Corporate Counsel - Houston Chapter (“ACC Houston”) is committed to ensuring a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment at its events.
At ACC Houston sponsored events you must always treat others with respect and civility
This Code of Conduct applies to anyone involved in an ACC Houston sponsored event, including all ACC Houston employees and staff, ACC members, attendees, guests, speakers, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, and venue staff. This policy is subject to change without notice.
Unacceptable Conduct Includes:
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Violence, threats of violence, unwanted touching, or physical intimidation
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Disruptive behavior
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Verbal or written harassment on any basis, including sexual harassment
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Displaying inappropriate visual information
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Possession of weapons or illegal substances
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Behavior that is illegal
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Violation of the rules of the event or venue
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Failure to follow safety instructions of ACC Houston staff or leadership
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Any behavior that ACC believes lacks respect or civility
Complaints
Contact local law enforcement or emergency services immediately if you notice a dangerous situation, threats of violence or someone in distress.
To report Unacceptable Conduct at an event, please fill out the form provided HERE or contact a member of the ACC Houston board or chapter administrator via email at houston@accglobal.com as soon as possible. Complainants can choose to remain anonymous.
Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable Conduct will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply at once.
Violations of this policy may result in:
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Removal from an event without refund or warning
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Banning from future ACC events
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Revoking ACC membership
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Referral to local law enforcement
Internal Action Steps
If a host/moderator/staff member witnesses or is alerted to any unacceptable behavior by a meeting participant, they will immediately reach out to members of the ACC Houston board via email: acchouston@accglobal.com.
The ACC Houston Board, or their designee, will review all allegations of violations of this Code of Conduct for Events and process according to its adopted procedures.
ACC HOUSTON PHOTO RELEASE POLICY
When you participate in a ACC or ACC Houston event, photography, audio and/or video recording may occur. By participating in the event, you grant ACC Houston and other entities as ACC Houston may designate from time to time (“ACC Houston Parties”) the right to create, use, distribute, broadcast, edit, or otherwise disseminate the photography, audio and/or video recording from the event that contain recordings of you or your likeness (collectively “Recordings”) without any further review or approval from you, in whole or in part, throughout the world, in perpetuity, in any and all media now known or hereafter developed. This grant to the ACC Houston Parties includes, but is not limited to, the use of the Recordings either alone or together with supporting materials, such as video or supporting information.
Examples of permitted use of the Recordings include displaying the photographs as thumbnails on a ACC Houston website (e.g., https://www.acc.com/chapters-networks/chapters/houston/ or acchouston.starchapter.com); utilizing the Recordings on ACC Houston Parties websites or print publications.
In addition, you understand that ACC Houston is not obligated to use the Recordings in any way. You agree that the rights granted herein are irrevocable. You further agree that you have no ownership rights in the Recordings and are due no royalties or other compensation whatsoever related to the Recordings.
By participating in the event, you affirm that you have the full power and authority to grant the rights and releases set forth herein.
ACC HOUSTON ENDORSEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY PROGRAMS
The Houston Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel America (ACC Houston or Chapter) considers requests from third-party organizations to endorse programs, conferences, and other events of interest to in-house attorneys that are held in Houston. An “endorsement” for purposes of this policy means the Chapter may, at its discretion, publicize the program or event, including but not limited to posting on the Chapter website, communicate the event to the Chapter membership, or become associated with the event in any other manner. The Executive Committee of the ACC Houston Board of Directors will consider such requests and make a determination. This policy is separate from ACC Houston's regular sponsorship program. The following factors will be considered:
- whether the program might compete with a currently scheduled or anticipated Chapter program, either because of its content or time proximity;
- uniqueness of the program topic and potential value to a significant segment of the membership (e.g., special focus on corporate counsel issues);
- financial benefit to ACC Houston (e.g., sponsorship fees) or its members (discounted registration fee), as well as potential financial risk;
- participation by Chapter members as faculty or program organizers;
- target audience (e.g. members of the bar, in-house attorneys, paralegals, non-legal managers, law firms);
- obligations imposed on ACC Houston such as promotion, finding faculty, program registration and administration, site and hotel identification and contract negotiation and potential impact on ACC Houston resources, including finances and staff time;
- nature of the third-party organization (profit or non-profit), its reputation and the extent to which ACC Houston benefits through association with such third-party;
- ongoing relationship between ACC Houston and the third-party organization and whether the relationship will be enhanced by such co-sponsorship; and
- whether the program or the sponsoring third-party organization might pose a conflict with an existing or pending ACC Houston sponsorship arrangement.
Approvals will be given on a case-by-case basis, and endorsement of a third-party program will not create an obligation to endorse future programs. “Endorsement” by ACC Houston under this policy does not give the sponsoring organization or any other person or entity the right to use the name of the Chapter or the Association of Corporate Counsel (“ACC”) in any program materials, publicity, or advertising unless that right is explicitly granted in an agreement signed by an authorized officer of the Chapter. Endorsements will not be approved if the program is designed to trade upon the Chapter’s name and the associated good will in a way that would confuse others and be detrimental to ACC Houston.
