The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is the world's largest organization serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations, nonprofits and other private-sector organizations around the globe.
An overview of corporate ethics regulations and the value of an internal compliance program. Includes brief guide to compliance program elements, U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Sentencing Organizations, and a sample audit of a compliance program.
An overview of employment law that will be relevant to in-house counsel. Provides a brief guide to wage & hour, performance management, discrimination, EEOC processes, FMLA, reductions in force & WARN Act, traditional labor law, independent contractors, affirmative action plans, EEO-1 reports, and employee privacy.
The global expansion of criminal risk for international companies and their executives progresses with lightning speed: some countries are setting even more stringent standards than in the US. Cooperation between international agencies is growing. The EU arrest warrant now allows arrest by foreign prosecutors without the need for a court process and extradition from the US is a real possibility. Given the high financial and reputational damage that criminal liability causes, in–house counsel need to understand the risks that their global companies and executives face.
Nonprofits now exist under increased scrutiny from state and federal regulators. Regulators from the IRS to state attorneys general are closely monitoring the activities of nonprofits to ensure they are acting as worthy stewards of the public trust. Learn what you can do to help your organization create and execute an effective ethics and compliance program and what to do when the regulators knock at the door. Participants left with a roadmap to address these issues.
All departments in an organization are typically tasked with the establishment of a business plan that compliments the goals the organization intends to achieve for the coming cycle. Yet, this is an area where in-house counsels’ skill set has not been developed. This practical look at the mechanics of a usable business plan for law departments takes into account the need for simplicity, achievability, and accountability in the plan. The plan should also align well with the overall strategies of the organization.
The recent US Supreme Court decision in Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc., relaxes the rules on price maintenance—but in Canada such activity remains a “per se” criminal offense. These and other differences can create traps or unnecessary burdens for companies which seek to operate on an integrated North American basis. This session, which was co-lead by a Canadian and a US practitioner, discussed the key areas of inconsistency and provided attendees with practical solutions for addressing them.
Sustainability concerns are poised to fundamentally change the way your organization does business. Corporate counsel are increasingly called upon to participate in everything from investing in alternative energy, sustainable products and technologies, to “greening” their companies’ facilities and operations, to verifying compliance with proliferating green reporting and disclosure requirements. The legal department will be a key focal point, and virtually every legal specialty can play a part.
This panel reviewed the basics of trade secrets and the practical steps in-house attorneys should take to protect trade secrets and educate company personnel on how to safeguard them. The panel highlighted recent cases to illustrate the types of disputes that arise from the misuse of trade secrets and how they might be avoided. Finally, the program addressed the nexus between trade secrets and employment agreements including, non-compete agreements and confidentiality agreements, as well as reviewed other important employee issues.
Many of us grew up under a common law system. Others lived in countries that have a civil law system. As in-house practice grows increasingly global, however, it is essential that we understand both traditions and that we also understand the relationships that these two traditions have to the developing legal systems in the world’s emerging economies.