The panel will discuss effective crisis management and exit strategies and will provide practical advice on how to successfully deal with crises such as political instability, international terrorism and pandemics in the countries where your company operates.
All technology-centric companies will consider an exit strategy at some point in their lifecycle; but what happens when you pursue two exit strategies — being acquired and conducting an initial public offering — at the same time? Learn from business leaders who have successfully used this strategy in their own businesses as they provide insights and practical tips to build and enhance value through a dual-track mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and Initial Public Offering (IPO) pathway. They will explain how to position your company for a dual-track exit strategy, pitfalls and traps for the unwary, the importance of planning and hiring the right advisors and partners, factors that indicate the likelihood of success for a dual-track exit strategy and how to continue to operate your business while pursuing one.
How will that contract you just drafted stand up to the scrutiny of a judge or jury? Each year, some of the largest jury verdicts in the United States are awarded in breach-of-contract cases. Panelists will discuss lessons learned from trying contract cases to help you evaluate, prepare for and win contract-related litigation. Topics will include unique issues that arise in trying contract claims, how commonly used contractual clauses can backfire at trial, minimizing risk in contract drafting and negotiation, restricting application of fiduciary duty and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, third-party vendor liability and damages.
Nearly every in-house counsel has faced an impending overseas deal when only local law-governed terms are at hand. Naturally, instinct favors home advantage and their own system and laws, but experience shows this instinct may, in practice, inform the wrong decision. Do you push to use the local terms unamended, or should you localize the US terms for another jurisdiction? The decision is a fundamental one that sets the tone and shape of negotiations immediately.This panel will examine and compare key tech contract principles across legal systems: Which terms won’t translate and remain enforceable? What key changes are required to make them work? What practical solutions exist to navigate risk and avoid unenforceability around the globe? Join this informed discussion among international practitioners as they determine the best way to deal with the challenges of localization for foreign jurisdictions.
The United States is one of the world’s largest producers and suppliers of energy, as well as one of its hungriest consumers. As the third largest industry in the United States, energy consists of many subgroups with interests, opportunities and agendas that both align and divide. This unique debate-style panel will bring together representatives of different facets of the energy industry, including industry players, environmentalists, consumers and lawmakers, who will discuss and debate some of the major issues facing the industry in the 21st century.
We all have lists of policies and procedures we'd like to see updated, revised or implemented. But how do you prioritize a long list of must-haves, knowing that in reality you won't get to all of them right away? Is a document retention policy more or less important than a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act policy? What about policies that depend on other organizations, but often involve (or are driven by) legal, like information security and privacy policies, business continuity plans, etc.? Which ones can be safely patched together or temporarily left alone, and which need to be addressed immediately? This session will give you the information to prioritize policy needs for your company so that you don’t look back and second-guess your choices.
This panel will analyze the interplay among warranties, liability caps and disclaimers, indemnity obligations and exceptions to each in complex contracts involving goods, services and licensed intellectual property (original equipment manufacturer, value-added reseller, design/development). They will focus on creative approaches to negotiate and draft appropriate risk allocation and manage exposure to intraparty and third-party claims. Materials will include sample clauses and checklists.
A panel of experienced international in-house lawyers will discuss the legal support areas on which legal department members in international offices should focus on in order to partner effectively with the business team. They will address optimizing the process for providing legal services, identifying future legal support requirements and implementing legal cost-saving initiatives.
Because social media law is a hybrid of a number of practice areas, this session will feature panelists familiar with social media issues in their most frequent corporate applications: labor and employment, advertising and endorsements and corporate law (including mergers and acquisitions). The panelists will cover issue spotting and reveal suggested guidelines for minimizing legal risks from social media activity by the company and its employees.
Practicing labor and employment law in a multinational business can be a difficult task. Of particular complexity are the varying standards and procedures required for terminating and disciplining employees. What might seem like a straightforward issue in one jurisdiction can be fraught with significant risk in another. This interactive panel will provide an overview of the key principles related to employee termination and discipline in a variety of international jurisdictions. The panel will also provide insight, best practices and resources for in-house counsel tasked with managing these issues globally.