NJCCA President's Message

by Lee Bream

To the Membership,

For many of us and our companies, Fall is the time to start planning - budgets, personnel, operating plans, etc.  We kick the summer sand from our shoes and look ahead.  Some may also anticipate that start of, say, the World Series and football (having grown up near Green Bay, WI, I still can't believe that Brett Favre ended up with the Jets).

As to looking ahead, I encourage you to consider active participation with NJCCA. The easiest method is to join one or our many Committees, whether substantive law or otherwise.  A list of Committees is available at our Chapter website or from our Executive Director, Gail Girard.  The Committees are responsible for planning and developing the educational and CLE sessions we offer during the year, including the All Day Seminar on September 18.  

To me, one of the most significant benefits or joining a Committee or participating in the Chapter is the intangible value you receive from collaboration and networking.  The contacts I have made through NJCCA over the years has paid off more times than I can count when it comes to getting a referral for outside counsel or to help resolve a legal question.  And where else can you get the focus and value of activities and programs developed by in-house counsel for in-house counsel.    

Our many projects can be of tremendous benefit to those who participate.  For example, we are kicking off the Value Challenge.  Driven by our national parent, the Association of Corporate Counsel, this effort will look at how to better define the value received from outside legal services and push for improvements in managing legal budgets.  We have also been able to advocate for some positive changes in the State limited licensing for in-house counsel.  

I look forward to seeing everyone at our All Day conference on September 18th and our Annual Members' Dinner on November 20.  Please check the calendar at our website for further details.

If anyone has comments or questions about any of the above, please email me at lee.braem@evonik.com.

Lee Braem
President NJCCA