Where are you on your career path?  What else is going on in your life?  How are you harmonizing the demands on your time and attention?

On May 15, we will consider the different ways in which women attorneys deal with their Ages & Stages, those numerous decision points they face on the balance they want and need to strike between their professional and personal interests - including all kinds of family considerations (relationships with partners, raising children, aging parents).  We have assembled a panel of women with varying approaches to these challenges who will kick off the event, and act as a springboard to discussion among the attendees of their own experiences and insights.  For more information and registration, visit http://www.acc.com/chapters/wmacca/index.cfm?eventID=12273

Whether the story is about the company facing civil liability or accusations of criminal conduct, a bad turn in business, an employee complaint or an unhappy customer, we never like to see our organizations in the headlines. But that’s not within our control. And now, more than ever before, bad news travels fast. 

In these days of the 24-hour news cycle, what should your organization do to be ready to respond to a call from the press? What are reporters looking for in covering business stories?  Even if the story is one you would like to wish away, what can make for a “successful” encounter with a reporter?  What are the biggest mistakes companies make in dealing with the media?  We'll discuss all of these issues at our next Signature Luncheon - Dealing with the Media - on May 17.  For more information and registration, visit http://www.acc.com/chapters/wmacca/index.cfm?eventID=12291

The workplace landscape is filled with traps for the unwary.  But we can help you navigate your way through the danger zones.

On June 6, the WMACCA Employment and Labor Forum will  present its annual round-up of top issues in the employment and labor law arena, presented by Jackson Lewis LLP, 2012 Sponsor of the Employment and Labor Forum. The conference features sessions at both the  “fundamentals” and “advanced” level (and it’s fine to mix-and-match between the two).  This year's topics will include:

• Dealing with the issues raised by employee whistleblowers
• Contingent workers
• Wage and hour
• EEOC's interest in criminal background and credit checks
• Effective employee terminations
• Managing intermittent leave

Registration will open shortly.

What could be better than performing an important community service while getting to use power tools?  Nothing we can think of!

On Wed., May 16, our Richmond In-House.... In the Community team will participate in a Habitat for Humanity Build Day in Sandston, just east of the Richmond airport.  For further details, please visit http://www.acc.com/chapters/wmacca/index.cfm?eventID=12270

The Jumpstart Out Business Startups (JOBS) Act "substantially changes a number of laws and regulations in a way that is expected to make it easier for companies to go public and facilitate the public offering process, while also making it easier for companies to raise capital privately and stay private longer," say attorneys with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  What do you need to know about the JOBS Act and its effect on capital markets practices?  This week's news alert - Jumpstart Out Business Startups (JOBS) Act Changes the Public and Private Capital Markets Landscape from Gibson Dunn, a 2012 Platinum sponsor of WMACCA - explains the JOBS Act and their perspective on its significance. A recording of Gibson Dunn's recent webcast about the JOBS Act and related materials can be accessed by clicking here: The JOBS Act: What companies need to know about this legislation and its impact on capital markets practice.

The 2012 Excellence in Corporate Practice Award recognizes the career achievements of senior in-house lawyers who epitomize excellence through representation of their clients, contributions to the legal profession and public service. Nominations must be received by June 28 to be considered.

The Matthew J. Whitehead II Award honors the memory of this ACC Board member. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by a corporate counsel, group, diversity project, or corporation, in creating a program that increases awareness of corporate legal diversity. All nomination forms are due by June 1.

The Corporate Pro Bono Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a corporate counsel, a group of corporate counsel, a pro bono project, or a corporation in providing pro bono legal services. ACC defines pro bono service as legal services provided to the indigent or a charitable non-profit. All nomination forms are due by June 1.

For the nominations criteria and additional information on these (and other) ACC awards, visit www.acc.com/aboutacc/awards.  Awards will be presented at ACC’s 2012 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL (September 30-October 3).