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.
Big shots make headlines. And lately, the news has not been good. From Enron to Worldcom and beyond, high profile scandals have rocked the executive suite. These scandals dramatically demonstrate the consequences of having a small group of executives who do not live up to the organization’s standard of behavior. Changing big shots’ behavior is a critical risk management issues, but it isn’t easy.
Privilege is one of the hottest topics on the minds of corporate practitioners these days. With the internet used as a primary means of communication in today’s fast-paced business environment, in-house lawyers may find themselves in ethical and legal trouble as they do deals all over the world without knowledge of the laws relating to privilege.
As in-house counsel for your company, one of your many roles may be to provide support and guidance to the board. But you need to stay on top of the trends in order to provide the best legal advice possible. Here is your chance to get up to speed as this course will teach you about current best practices in board process, director communication, and on-boarding new directors. You’ll also take home practical tips on the hottest legal issues affecting directors today, including duties and liability, D&O insurance, and corporate governance.
Annual Meeting 2006: If your company makes use of or develops free or open source software (FOSS), this session is for you. Our technology counsel will provide an overview of what FOSS is, legal issues concerning such software including litigation, patents, different licenses, warranties, and indemnification involved, where and how FOSS is generally used, and risks and benefits involved with licensing and using these types of software.
Leadership is not the same as management, and in today's culturally and geographically diverse work environment effective leadership requires not only solid management and technical skills but an appreciation for and sensitivity to differences in business and legal cultures. Our panel of international legal leaders will present lessons learned and practical suggestions on how to overcome geographic, organizational and cultural barriers in order to build an integrated global law department, while taking into consideration differences in legal systems around the world.
Annual Meeting 2006: Great lawyers are not necessarily great managers. In this session, learn how to get better performance out of your employees. Our panel of management specialists will explore real and specific performance issues, including both the positive and negative you likely encounter on a regular basis.
The decision of whether to litigate or arbitrate poses a number of legal questions. For example, in-house litigators are regularly asked to decide which is the best forum for a matter to be heard. Is this case better for arbitration or litigation? What are the pros and cons of arbitration v. litigation? Our panel of seasoned litigators will answer all these questions, plus give practical advice on drafting arbitration clauses to maximize your chances of enforceability and success.
Almost every private company is looking for an exit strategy for its investors — most often by means of an IPO or an acquisition by a much larger, usually public, company. Accordingly, most exit scenarios entail a transition into the public company realm. That transition can be rocky, or with some advance planning, you can make it smooth and look like a star. This session will look at public company regulations and best practices as they apply to private companies in transition.
For global companies operating across multiple jurisdictions, establishing a single set of compliance policies and guidelines that can be used around the world is a daunting challenge. With increased corporate focus on compliance activities comes a new need to coordinate with other corporate non-lawyer-led functions, such as a Chief Compliance Officer and staff, or internal controls/audit functions.
A strategic IP management program is essential to increasing the value of your company’s innovative power. How can your IP be used to invigorate the business and enhance your company’s competitive position? Using real-world experiences, our panel will share their perspectives on how to develop an effective strategy for leveraging and protecting your company’s IP assets.