ACC National News

In This Issue…

ACC BOARD APPROVES FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
ACC UNVEILS ITS NEW DESKTOP LEARNING WEBCASTS
ACC's VIRTUAL LIBRARY -- KEEPING IT CURRENT
BENCHMARK YOUR APPROACH TO IN-HOUSE ISSUES GET EXPERT ADVICE FROM YOUR PEERS
IN-HOUSE JOBLINE:  GREAT SOURCE FOR NEW JOB OR NEW EMPLOYEE
BETTER DECISIONS REQUIRE BETTER INFORMATION

ACC BOARD APPROVES FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
The ACC Board recently granted approval for the ACC Financial Services Committee bringing the total number of national committees to 14.  The general purpose of this committee will be to serve the interest of and develop resources for ACC members who work in the finance, banking, investments, leasing and insurance industries.  We are excited about this new committee and the interest shown by ACC members. The Financial Services Committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 3:00 PM ET. Members have begun work on a charter, the development of subcommittees, and a survey to determine how this committee can best serve interested members.  Your participation and ideas are welcome. Please contact Jacqueline Windley for more information about this new ACC committee.

ACC UNVEILS ITS NEW DESKTOP LEARNING WEBCASTS
ACC is pleased to announce its new and improved webcast service.  Now, when you access the educational programs produced by and for in-house counsel in the comfort of your office you will have the benefits of web content with improved audio.  New features will include:

•    Better access across all browsers
•    An improved registration process
•    Registration reminders
•    Microsoft Outlook calendar integration
•    Real time question and answer function
•    Improved Webcast archived player

Best of all, these valuable programs are still offered at no cost.  Don’t miss out on this invaluable resource.  Register now by accessing the Webcast link on ACC Online, acca.com homepage.  Follow the simple instructions to register for upcoming events.

The following webcasts are just a few examples of what the programs we will present using this new system.  Be sure to check the committee links in the left menu for more detailes about committee-sponsored webcast, or go to webcasts.acca.com for a complete list of upcoming and archived presentations.

Hot SOX: Executive Compensation and other Sarbanes-Oxley Developments
Wednesday, March 14,2006 at 1:00 PM ET
Presented by the law firm of Holland and Knight, LLP, this program will build upon the ACC Sarbanes-Oxley Primer for the Small Law Department distributed in September 2005 by reviewing recent Sarbanes Oxley and related developments, including the SEC's recent proposal on executive compensation disclosure, extended internal controls compliance deadlines for smaller companies, new filing deadlines for larger companies, and recent enforcement action for loans to company executives.

Implementing a Best Practice Technology Escrow Program for Your Organization’s IP
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 1:00 PM ET
Sponsored by Iron Mountain Intellectual Property Management Division
The focus of this presentation will be on the use of technology escrow as a form of intellectual property protection, especially as it relates to software source code, and best practices and strategies put forth by leading companies who currently use this procedure.

Committee-sponsored Webcasts

Common Problems in Technology Outsourcing Transactions: How to Recognize and Avoid Them
Tuesday, February 28, 2006 at 2:00 PM ET
Presented by ACC's Nonprofit Organizations Committee and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

Assessing Corporate Vulnerability to New Union Organizing Tactics, Corporate Campaigns, and Two Labor Federations: The In-House Counsel's Playbook
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 1:00 PM ET
Presented by ACC's Employment & Labor Law Committee and Jackson Lewis LLP

Reputations On The Line - The Legal Remedies Available for Dealing with a Media Crisis in the UK and Europe
Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 12:00 PM ET
Presented by ACC's International Legal Affairs Committee and Eversheds

Twenty-five Basic Employment Law Questions and Answers for Managing Foreign-based Employees
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 1:00 PM ET
Presented by ACC's Employment & Labor Law Committee and Jackson Lewis LLP 

Spring Cleaning: Steps To Reduce Electronic Discovery Costs Under The New FRCP Amendments
Thursday, March 23, 2006 at 1:00 PM ET
Presented by ACC's Litigation Committee and Fios, Inc. 

Transcripts of all ACC webcasts are available in online in the Virtual Library. Please visit the Virtual Library at www.acca.com/vl and use material type: transcript

ACC's VIRTUAL LIBRARY -- RESOURCES FOR THE IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
ACC's Virtual Library provides one of the largest selections of up-to-date information and resources developed just for the in-house counsel.  Below are a few of the recent additions and updates.  Contact Andre Barnett, legal intern for ACC's Legal Resources Department, for more information about ACC Virtual Library material.

Non-US Sample Forms or Check Lists
Are you looking for Non-US Sample Forms or Check Lists? Please visit www.acca.com/vl/sampleforms.php for a collection of resources from jurisdictions outside the US.

New InfoPAK
General Counsel’s Guide to Affirmative Action Compliance
Sponsored by the law firm of Jackson Lewis, this InfoPAK provides an overview of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and suggest steps a company can follow to determine if it is subject to federal affirmative action regulations and if so, how to ensure compliance.

Updated InfoPAK
Sponsored by Bridgeway Software, this InfoPAK is intended to provide in-house counsel with information focused on Outside Counsel Management. This updated infopak contains checklists, sample billing guidelines, engagement letters and RFPs. Additional sample documents are available at ACC online.


THE LATEST IN ACC EDUCATION

Corporate Counsel Institute
In Cooperation with the Association of Corporate Counsel
March 9-10, 2006, Washington, DC
Join your colleagues at the 10th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute.  Georgetown CLE has joined forces with the Association for Corporate Counsel to create a program focused on practical advice combined with real-world examples that have a proven track record for success. Confirmed speakers include:

•    Hon. Christopher Cox, Chairman, U.S. Securities
     & Exchange Commission
•    Hon. Arlen Specter, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
•    Hon. Paul Clement, Solicitor General
•    Prof. Robert Pitofsky, former Chairman, Federal Trade 
     Commission
•    Seth Waxman, former Solicitor General

Register today by visiting www.georgetowncle.org or calling 202-662-9890 to receive the early discount of $100 off! 

ACC Europe’s Annual Conference,  May 14–16 in Athens
Like the world we live and practice in, the in-house legal profession is continually evolving. We are no longer just "the company lawyer”—we are managers, advisors, strategists, and leaders. As in-house counsel, we perform all these roles and more. To be successful, we need access to information and networks to help us stay on top of changing demands, and we need to continue to build and hone our substantive legal skills and knowledge. Join us for ACC Europe’s 2006 Annual Conference: Taking the Lead as In-house Counsel (14–16 May, Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel, Athens, Greece). Programs will feature legal updates, management advice and leadership thinking, and will open opportunities to network with the best and brightest in the in-house legal profession in Europe, For more information, visit www.acca.com/acce/06 or contact Catherine Carton at acceurope@acca.com.

2006 Annual Meeting Program Schedule- Available Next Month!
Look for the complete 2006 Annual Meeting (October 23-25, Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA) program schedule in the March issue of the ACC Docket. With over 100 sessions, the meeting is sure to have something for every in-house practitioner. Don’t forget to register before March 31st to lock in the lowest registration rate possible. To register or for additional information, visit www.acca.com/am/06.


BENCHMARK YOUR APPROACH TO IN-HOUSE ISSUES
ACC’s Leading Practice Profiles are unique and practical benchmarking tools.  Learn how legal departments from top companies are addressing a wide variety of in-house issues, including:
 
• Corporate Governance Programs for Reporting Concerns
• Diversity
• Job Titles for In-house Lawyers 
• Law Department Metrics
• Privacy and Data Protection
 
Check out all of ACC’s Leading Practice Profiles


GET EXPERT ADVICE FROM YOUR PEERS
Nearly 3,000 ACC members have volunteered to share their experience and knowledge with other ACC members as part of the MemberToMemberSM network. You can get insight on substantive law issues in more than 100 practice areas, including outside counsel management product liability, privacy issues, and workers’ compensation. Use this resource to make your job easier, or sign up to offer your own insight and advice at www.acca.com/membership/search.php
 

IN-HOUSE JOBLINE:  GREAT SOURCE FOR NEW JOB OR NEW EMPLOYEE
Are you looking for a new job or a new employee?  Well, look no further than ACC’s In-house Jobline. In this one location you can find multiple opportunities in your own specialty.  Just look at what’s available below:

Corporate & Securities Law
    Job Posting -- 1,232
    Resumes Available -- 10,873
Employment & Labor Law 
    Job Posting -- 317
    Resumes Available -- 1,853                                           
Energy
    Job Posting -- 65
    Resumes Available -- 539
Environmental, Health & Safety
    Job Posting -- 279
    Resumes Available -- 752   
Finance
    Job Posting -- 398
    Resumes Available -- 852
Information Technology Law & eCommerce  
    Job Posting -- 126
    Resumes Available -- 1,569                     
Insurance Staff Counsel
    Job Posting -- 126
    Resumes Available -- 897
International Legal Affairs
    Job Posting -- 82
    Resumes Available -- 1,200
Intellectual Property
    Job Posting -- 475
    Resumes Available -- 2,983 
Law Department Management
    Job Posting -- 125
    Resumes Available -- 2,815          
Litigation
    Job Posting -- 252
    Resumes Available -- 2,898
Non-Profit Organizations
    Job Posting -- 17
    Resumes Available -- 476
* Jobs and resumes may be identified in more than one category.

So whether you are looking for your next job or to make your next hire, log on to  jobline.acca.com now. Searching the job listings and posting one’s resume is easy and always free. ACC members receive a 20% discount on all job posting fees and resume searches.   

In-house Jobline is the best source for anyone, anywhere, trying to fill or find an in-house position.

 
BETTER DECISIONS REQUIRE BETTER INFORMATION
Jordan Lawrence, an ACC Alliance Partner, is pleased to announce the new Assessment for Records Initiatives^TM service. This new service delivers the insights and facts needed to make informed decisions about records-related products, strategy and services. The Assessment for Records Initiatives^TM service will enable your company to collect, analyze and benchmark the most critical information that you need to meet legal and regulatory requirements, scale technology solutions and dramatically cut costs.

ACC members receive a 15 percent discount of this service for a limited time. For more information about how the new Assessment for Records Initiatives^TM service can help you and your company, visit www.jordanlawrence.com/ari.asp or call 636-821-2222.