ACC National News
In This Issue…
ACC COMMITTEES: ADVOCATES FOR IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
ACC DESKTOP LEARNING WEBCASTS AND REPLAYS
ACC'S VIRTUAL LIBRARY—SETTING THE STANDARD
ACC’S CANADIAN CCU—SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE
DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR ACC’S 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
ACC COMMITTEES: ADVOCATES FOR IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
Advocacy is an important part of the services that ACC provides to its membership. ACC’s advocacy work focuses on multi-
jurisdictional matters, corporate responsibility, issues of privilege and other matters that affect corporate counsel's ability to provide effective guidance to their corporate employers. ACC's Advocacy Committee and its staff are committed to protecting the global interests of corporate counsel. ACC committees also play an important role in ACC’s advocacy efforts by filing comment letters with government regulatory agencies and relevant industry, to make known the position of in-house counsel. Most recently, ACC’s Corporate & Securities Law and ACC’s Employment & Labor Law Committees filed a joint comment letter with the Securities & Exchange Commission, and on May 24 members of the CSL Committee will meet with SEC staff to discuss an agenda developed by the Committee. Not only do ACC committees provide value through resources, they also provide value as the advocate for in-house counsel.
ACC Advocacy
ACC Committee Advocacy
For more information on ACC’s advocacy efforts contact Susan Hackett, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, or Michael Ian Dorsett, Advocacy Manager.
ACC's VIRTUAL LIBRARY—SETTING THE STANDARD
When ACC members need resources specifically developed for in-house counsel, they turn to ACC's Virtual Library. This respository of documents and information includes material developed by ACC committees, as well as leading outside counsel in the field of corporate law. The resources in the Virtual Library are readily available for members to download. Check below for new and updated additions to ACC's Virtual Library.
New InfoPAKs:
Affirmative Action Compliance
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) is the U.S. Department of Labor agency charged with enforcing federal affirmative action regulations and eradicating discrimination in the workplace. This InfoPAK provides an overview of OFCCP and suggests steps a company can follow to determine if it is subject to federal affirmative action regulations and, if so, ensure compliance.
Conducting Effective Risk Assessments
This resource provides corporate counsel with a general overview of the concept of risk assessment and suggests useful practices for the handling of such an activity in the corporate setting.
Developing Effective Disaster Preparedness and Business Continuity Plans
Planning for an effective corporate response to catastrophic challenges posed by man, nature or infectious disease requires consideration of a host of operational and business issues in addition to legal concerns. The goals of such efforts are to prepare for emergencies, respond to major disruptions, mitigate their effect and recover from their consequences. Preparations of this type allow companies to satisfy their moral responsibilities to their employees and their communities, and to fulfill their compliance obligations under federal, state and local regulatory requirements. This InfoPAK is by no means an exhaustive analysis of the legal, liability and business challenges that require careful planning and preparation. However, it is intended to identify legal and practical considerations that should be examined by corporations in the development of effective emergency preparedness and business continuity plans.
Related Webcast:
Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 1:00 PM (ET)
Pandemic Preparedness: Developing Your Company's Plan, Thinking Through the Legal Issues
Strategic Planning for In-house Counsel
Strategic planning allows a law department to focus its energy effectively and ensure that its members are working toward the same goals. Such planning also allows a department to assess and adjust its direction in response to a changing environment. This InfoPAK is intended to provide in-house counsel with information focused on strategic planning issues.
Updated InfoPAKs
Doing Business Internationally
Outside Counsel Management
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Upcoming InfoPAKs
(available in June 2006)
Employment and Labor Laws in Canada
Responding to EEO Agency Charges of Discrimination
A Glossary of Law Department Job Descriptions
(available in July 2006)
Employment and Labor Laws in Mexico
The Value of the In-house Law Department
New Practice Profiles
Contract Management for Small Law Departments
This Profile will examine contract management practices in small law departments - looking at file and database management initiatives, use of contract review and approval processes, as well as use of boilerplate or form contracts within the department and by its clients.
Business Continuity and Disaster Response Planning
This Profile explores what five selected companies and one multi-national law firm are doing in the area of business continuity and disaster response planning. It considers such matters as early warnings, risk assessment, communications, training, alliances and written plans.
Upcoming Practice Profiles
(available in August 2006)
Leading Practices in Global Mediation
Leading Practices in Controlling Outside Counsel Costs/Alternative Fee/Billing Methodologies
Some Recently Added Sample Policies and Checklists:
Monitoring Employee Emails
Best Practice in Crisis Response Checklist
Crisis Communication Planning and Tactics Checklist
Employee Confidentiality and Patent Confidentiality Agreement
Employee Intellectual Property/Confidentiality Agreement
Confidentiality Agreement with Departing Notice
Employee Confidentiality Agreement
ACC DESKTOP LEARNING WEBCASTS AND REPLAYS
ACC understands that you have a busy schedule and may not be able to listen to a webcast on the date or time the live program is offered. That is why ACC records and offers replays of all its webcasts. The replays are usually available within two to three business days after the live program and remain on our website for one year from the date of the original recording. To access the replays, or to register for an upcoming webcast, please visit webcasts.acca.com.
Also, transcripts of all webcasts can be found in the ACC Virtual Library. Simply type in one or two words of the webcast title, then select the material type transcript. As always, if you have questions about locating the resources in the virtual library, please contact us at legalresources@acca.com.
Upcoming Webcasts
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 3:00 PM (ET)
Pitfalls and Potholes for In-House Counsel: Spotting and Avoiding Ethical Problems
Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at 4:00 PM (ET)
Doing Business With and Finding Value In Financially Challenged Companies
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 at 1:00 PM (ET)
Workplace & War – The Ramifications of the New USERRA Regulations
Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 12:00 Noon (ET)
Data Privacy in Europe - The Essentials
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 1:00 PM (ET)
Managing to Motivate and Maximize Productivity in the Law Department
Thursday, June 22, 2006 at 12:00 Noon (ET)
What Every In-House Lawyer Should Know About Non-Compete Agreements (Including Their Own)
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 4:00 PM (ET)
Deal or No Deal: Recent Developments Impacting Environmental Due Diligence in M&A Transactions
ACC’S CANADIAN CCU—SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE!
For the first time ever, this acclaimed ACC program will be offered in Toronto! Whether you practice in the United States, Canada or are involved in work that crosses the border, in-house counsel face a number of similar challenges, and the role of in-house counsel has been changing in recent years. Open only to in-house counsel, CCU teaches attendees how to excel during this time of change. While many programs focus on substantive law, CCU teaches you how to be a better in-house attorney. Topics include media awareness training, employment hot topics, managing litigation and much more. The program is especially valuable for attorneys who are new to in-house practice, or who want to improve their management and career skills. Registrants will learn first-hand from in-house colleagues, with a focus on the basics needed to succeed. Network with the best and brightest in the in-house legal profession! View the newly released program schedule and register today for just $425 US!
DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR ACC’S 2006 ANNUAL MEETING!
With the help of ACC’s committees, the 2006 Annual Meeting (October 23-25, San Diego, CA) promises to be the best one yet! The full program details for the Annual Meeting, including program descriptions and faculty are now available at www.acca.com/am/06/program.php. You don't want to miss the best annual education and networking event for in-house counsel! For details on programs presented by a particular committee, click on the committee links on the left. Be sure to register for the meeting by September 8 to qualify for the $1195 regular rate. Register TODAY!
