As most of you know, ACC's annual meeting is right around the corner. This year, it is scheduled on Sunday to Wednesday, October 24 to 27, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 200 East Market Street in San Antonio.
The Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of in-house counsel from around the world. Since it began in 1983, it has grown to become the premier annual event for corporate attorneys to gain education credits, meet with legal service providers, and network with their peers.
This year, if you can't attend the meeting in person, you can listen via webcast.A selection of the most popular sessions will be live webcast from San Antonio. The remaining sessions will be audio recorded and available for purchase after the meeting. More information on registering for a live webcast will be available prior to the meeting.
Attendees mention year after year that earning CLE credit is a top reason to attend the Annual Meeting, and there are up to 15 credit hours to earn. This year, making sure you get your credit has been made very easy. The procedure is described in detail on the ACC website. Over 100 CLE/CPD courses will be offered. You do not have to pre-register for sessions, but popular sessions may sell out, and attendees who have pre-registered are guaranteed their seat in a sold-out session.
Sessions begin on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m.The finance track features Dave Donlin of Target Corp., speaking about A Wellness Program for Equity Plans: Time for a Check Up - addressing new SEC, IRS, and FDIC regulations governing equity and phantom equity plans that may result in clawback, change in control, valuation, and accounting issues. He will be joined by Jason Romick, Hub International Limited, Edward Wegerson, Lindquist & Vennum, Tim Zellmer, General Mills, and Allyson Willoughby, Method Products.
Monday's Compliance and Ethics track, The Golden Rules of Workplace Investigations, discusses the need to respond promptly and thoroughly to employee complaints of harassment, discrimination, or other unlawful workplace conduct. William Barnett, vice president and general counsel of State Industrial Products Corp., will provide in-house counsel with the tools they need to address these issues.
ACC Chair's Choice on Monday is eDiscovery - Nuts, Bolts & Building Plans. This basic course is for in-house counsel who might find themselves responding to an expansive eDiscovery request.
On Monday afternoon, the ACC track is Outside Counsel Fee Valuation Toolbox, Part I - a discussion about moving from the billable hour to a value-based fee structure for at least some portion of outside counsel spend. Elisa Garcia, EVP and general counsel, Office Depot, Inc., will help attendees consider various fee structures with a focus on two popular approaches: risk collars and fixed fees.
Part II of the Fee Valuation Toolbox will follow, with Ms. Garcia exploring value-based fee options, focusing on three more popular approaches: portfolio retainers, success/incentive fees, and contingencies. It is recommended that attorneys attend both fee valuation sessions.
The Monday afternoon technology track topic, Reducing Risk for Your Company through Cloud Computing, addresses the challenges faced by companies that use or provide cloud computing services. Orrie Dinstein, chief privacy leader, GE Capital, and Ieuan Mahony and Ed Pisacreta, Holland & Knight LLP, will lead the discussion.
On Monday, the Compliance and Ethics track presents the Monday Lunch and Ethics Follies®Program, a fun and fast-paced musical comedy presented by ACC's South/Central Texas chapter. Receptions from 6 to 7 p.m. have been scheduled Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings. The meeting ends with the Wednesday morning tracks at 12:30 p.m.
For information about the many tracks, courses, speakers, exhibits and networking opportunities, visit www.acc.com/education and explore the Annual Meeting information. If you need additional information, please contact [email protected] or (202) 293-4103, ext. 451.