Pacific Daylight Time

ACC is proud to present a day of invaluable programs for San Diego's general counsel community. High-caliber and targeted industry content conveniently scheduled into one day with dual tracks.

Your ticket includes:

• Two MCLE options each hour - earn specialty credits including Civility, Elimination of Bias, Ethics & Technology
• Continental breakfast
• Plated lunch with in-house counsel award presentation
• Happy Hour with complimentary cocktails and appetizers outside in the Santiago Courtyard

Make a great first impression with a new portrait!
ACC San Diego will be offering complimentary headshots during the event.  A good headshot helps build a credible reputation when hunting for a  job or building your company’s brand identity. Stand out in the crowd  with a professional headshot from Brent Haywood Photography! (ACC members only.)

Downloadable Schedule

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30 AM

  ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 1
9:30 - 10:30 AM
New Merger Guidelines and Beyond: Antitrust Update

Speakers:
     
Brian Boyle, Partner, DLA Piper
Kevin Berggren, Senior Director Legal Counsel, Dexcom
Leonor Velazquez Davila, Associate Director, Ethics and Legal Compliance, Intel Corporation

As US antitrust agencies continue to ramp up pressure on companies across sectors, this session will explore key antitrust developments that every in-house counsel should know.  We will explore changes in merger analysis, information sharing, labor market issues and more.  We will also share tips for in-house counsel to help put their internal clients in the best position possible to respond to antitrust challenges in the future. (1 General Credit)

  ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 2
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Staying Ahead of the Curve: Best Practices for Online and AI-Based Advertising in a Changing Legal Landscape

Speakers:
     
Wynter Deagle, Partner, Sheppard Mullin
Gazal Pour-Moezzi, Partner, Sheppard Mullin
Brittany Walter, Associate, Sheppard Mullin

Join us for an informative session on managing your advertising and content-generation strategy in a changing legal landscape. Our expert panelists will discuss best practices for online and social media advertising from the perspective of consumer privacy issues, IP protection considerations, and required disclosures for AI-generated content. You’ll learn how to stay ahead of the curve and navigate the complex legal landscape of online advertising. (1 General Credit)

  ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 3
10:45 - 11:45 AM
Protecting The Company: Critical Developments in Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants

Speakers:
        
Paul Liu, ACC San Diego Board Member & General Counsel, PacketFabric
Gretchen Jankowski, Shareholder and Co-Chair, Litigation, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney
Jason Murtagh, Shareholder, Labor & Employment and Office Head, San Diego, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney
Jennifer Oliver, Counsel, Litigation, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney

This panel will discuss the rapid changes in restrictive covenants at the federal and state level, and examine how companies can best navigate these changes to protect their trade secrets and competitive advantages. (1 General Credit)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 4
10:45 - 11:45 AM
M&A Developments in a Demanding Market

Speakers:
    
Rowook Park, Partner, Cooley San Diego
Paul Castor, Vice President, Chief Corporate Counsel , Viasat Inc.
Sunny Chang, Assistant General Counsel, Artiva Biotherapeutics

As the market continues to evolve, companies must stay abreast of opportunities and trends as they plan for their most strategic transactions. This session will cover key topics relevant to today’s deal economy, including a review of regulatory trends, a primer for parties contemplating a sale to a financial sponsor, a closer look at merger of equals transactions, and guidance for companies in an unsolicited approach. (1 General Credit)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Lunch & In-House Counsel Awards
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 5
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Preserving the Attorney-Client Privilege: Best Practices & Future Trends

Moderator:

Clare Prober, Associate, Mintz

Panelists:
     
Kerime Akoglu, Associate, Mintz
Asal Alipanah, Legal Operations Manager, H.G. Fenton Company
Valerie Phan, Associate, Mintz

An overarching discussion on how the attorney-client privilege is defined and what it covers, and perhaps most importantly what it does not. A review of best practices and common pitfalls, and how emerging technologies and future trends will impact how companies will be required to protect their communications from discovery. (1 Ethics Credit)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 6
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Operationalizing Responsible AI: From Theory to Practice

Speaker:

Peter Stockburger, San Diego Managing Partner, Dentons

In this presentation, we will cut through the noise surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and provide a practical roadmap for organizations of all sizes and sophistication to operationalize the concept of responsible AI. This presentation will delve into the current legal landscape governing the use and deployment of AI, the future of the technology, and provide a detailed overview of how responsible AI can be implemented, using real-world examples of successful (and not so successful) programs. (1 Technology Credit)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 7
2:15 - 3:15 PM
Updates in Government Contracting and Enforcement Initiatives

Speakers:
     
Adam Braverman, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Alex Ward, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Ted Bonanno, Senior Legal Counsel, Relativity Space

Panelists will discuss recent developments and trends for government contractors to watch in cybersecurity, antitrust, False Claims Act enforcement, bid protests, and executive branch authority.  (1 General Credit)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 8
2:15 - 3:15 PM
Legal Needs of Public Companies -  Top 5 Considerations for In-house Counsel

Speaker:
 
Jennifer Trowbridge, Senior Counsel, Procopio LLP
Amber Condron, Corporate Counsel, Marriott Vacations Worldwide

This program will provide valuable insights for those who are new to public company in-house legal departments and for those who simply hope to learn more about the key legal issues and considerations that public company inhouse counsel must contend with. Examples of just a few of the topics we’ll address include: periodic reporting requirements, shareholders and business leaders as “clients” and managing outside counsel. (1 General Credit)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 9
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Justice Beyond Prejudice:  Eliminating Bias in Corporate Legal Practices

Speakers:
   
Shannon Finley, Shareholder, Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin
Rio Schwarting, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Employment, Wellpath
Dawn Andrews, Assistant General Counsel - Ethics & Workplace Culture, San Diego Gas & Electric

Implicit bias can negatively affect anyone—both as an offender and victim of prejudice.  It affects our perceptions of others and situations. This presentation delves into the intricate impact of Implicit Bias on in-house counsel operations.  We will touch upon hiring, personnel decisions, and work assignments within corporate legal departments.  This presentation will provide insights into recognizing biases.  You will learn actionable strategies to interrupt Implicit Bias to foster a more diverse and inclusive work environment and enable us to be more mindful and intentional in how we lead and work with the people around us. (1 Elimination of Bias Credit)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Session 10
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Taking the High Road: Civility in the Legal Profession

Speaker:
       
Diana Cohen, President, ACC San Diego & General Counsel, Dr. Bronner's
Michelle Meek, Principal, Jackson Lewis
Stephanie Kierig, Associate, Jackson Lewis

Disagreement is an essential part of being an attorney, but many misconceptions about civility exist. During our session, we will take a closer look at what civility means today, review California’s rules regarding civility, and discuss strategies for dealing with incivility in the profession. (1 Civility Credit)

How To Work in a Distracted World – The Neuroscience of Focus and Habit

What actually goes on in our brains in a distracted world?  Brains are primed to process incoming stimuli for survival – but not for today’s “wired” technological world of smartphones, email, and instant communications.  With overwhelming amounts of information and distractions, it is hard to give productive focus to critical cognitive tasks.  We tend to default to habits, or hard wired, recognized patterns, which are not always aligned with our professional goals.  What if we could learn not only to maintain and sustain focus but also to create new habits, or change? 

We will discuss current neuroscience research on using the brain’s wiring to conquer distractions and to focus on essential cognitive tasks.

• Leaves of Absence – We’ll walk through the requirements for expanded Paid Sick Leave and Reproductive Loss Leave so you can ensure your policies are up to date.
• Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements – We’ll help you understand just what is prohibited by the new laws and what type of liability you may face if you fail to comply. And we will provide tips for reviewing and revising your agreements and providing the required notices to your employees.
• Workplace Violence Prevention Plans – We’ll preview the new requirement that all employers prepare Workplace Violence Prevention Plans and outline new requirements for record keeping and training.

Ransomware and cyberattacks on the upswing, cyber insurance harder and more expensive to obtain, hackers gaining in sophistication using state of the art technology like AI and on top of it all regulators are increasingly more creative in the laws they pass and how they enforce them, including adding potential CISO personal liability to the mountain of cybersecurity issues facing companies as we head into 2024.

Our panelists will explore how businesses can manage cyber risk proactively and reactively in a new world order:  The new SEC cybersecurity rules, which go into effect on December 15 for most public companies, will require issuers to report material cybersecurity incidents on a Form 8-K within four days of determining that the incident is material. Recent SEC enforcement actions including the one against SolarWinds that includes potential personal liability for the CISO. The SEC complaint filed by ransomware gang ALPHV (BlackCat) on the SEC's Tips, Complaints, and Referrals page, inviting the agency to find that MeridianLink had failed to meet its incident disclosure burden. And all the while hackers gain in sophistication and savvy employing the latest techniques in AI to undermine enterprise security. 

How can an enterprise effectively manage cyber risk proactively and reactively?

During this session, we will discuss how to be ready and resilient in 2024:

• How to build a smart, flexible cyber security program leveraging people, process and technology

• Identifying and operationalizing key current cyber regulations and enforcement actions

• How to evaluate and manage your enterprise cyber risk

• Cybersecurity trends to watch in 2024

1.0 Hour CA CLE Credit
You must register for zoom with your email address to qualify for MCLE.

ESG is today’s political football. As Americans take sides and root for their home teams, companies find themselves at the crux of a battlefield that pitches corporate values, strategy, and reputation against a shifting and dynamic legal and political landscape. Join us for an informative panel discussion about practical strategies in-house counsel may employ to tackle ESG-related challenges.

The panel will be moderated by Mintz Member Jennifer Rubin, and include ML Strategies Executive Vice President & Director of Operations Alex Hecht, and Mintz attorney Nikki Rivers, and Michael Rider, Global General Counsel and Secretary at ResMed.

Our panel will address: 

• Political discourse in the C-suite - fostering a productive dialogue around political matters within your organization and managing the impact of political decision-making 
• Achieving corporate strategy in a politically charged election cycle – how you can help your C-suite align your company's strategic goals with ESG priorities against this backdrop. 
• The future of ESG social programs – how corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion goals can (still) be achieved in light of a shifting legal landscape