Advocacy Initiative

WMACCA is reaching out to the mandatory and voluntary Bars in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to weigh in on important issues - particularly issues concerning regulation of in-house practice -- and ensure that in-house counsel have a seat at the table in these governing bodies.

The chairs of the Advocacy Initiative are:

• Carol Rick Gibbons: carol.gibbons@capitalone.com  -- primary liaison to the Virginia State Bar

• Judy Sapir: jsapir@apcoworldwide.com -- primary liaison to the DC Bar

• If you would like to be our Maryland Bar liaison, please contact Carol Gibbons to offer your services.
  

Public Relations Initiative

Each day, in-house counsel are on the front lines in managing and handling the issues and deals that are of the highest priority to the companies and organizations that employ them.  Sometimes, the matters that they handle are sensitive, and the goal is to avoid public scrutiny and media attention.  However, oftentimes the work they are doing is deserving of recognition and kudos - but we never hear about it.

WMACCA wants to change that state of affairs.  And we need your assistance.  There are four aspects to this initiative:
   1.  Working with the media as a resource or source on important news and issues; 
   2.  Developing substantive content for the media;
   3.  Getting recognition for in-house counsel making career moves or doing important deals;
   4.  Helping members get awards and honors.

WMACCA works with Allison & Partners, a leading national communications firm, on the public relations initiative. Allison & Partners’ Washington, D.C-based office is providing public relations support that leverages the expertise and insight of WMACCA’s members via comprehensive thought leadership, speaker’s bureau, social media, and byline programs in a variety of practice areas. You can reach the WMACCA Team at wmacca@allisonpr.com

More information about various aspects of our initiative:

1.  CONTACTS FOR THE MEDIA: Legal issues are regularly in the news and reporters need experts in the legal community to help them explain the implications of new developments (court cases, laws, regulations, etc.).  WMACCA is always looking for members who have knowledge of areas of law that are likely to be of more interest to reporters (i.e. hot topics) such as banking, bankruptcy, biotech, compliance, education, energy, healthcare, and immigration. If you are interested in being on our informal list of potential "sources" for these reporters, please contact Ilene Reid at Ilene.Reid@WMACCA.com

2.  DEVELOPING CONTENT:  Are you a good writer?  We are looking to develop a pool of writers who would be willing to develop articles – on a substantive area of law, on a practice-management technique that has been particularly valuable, or any other subject that you want to share with your colleagues.  This is yet another way to demonstrate the expertise that in-house counsel have.  We can help you find a co-author, discuss topics, and provide other support.   If you are interested, please contact Ilene Reid at Ilene.Reid@WMACCA.com

3.  NEWS OF NOTE:  We will act as a conduit to get information about developments of note to the local media (including The Legal Times, the Washington Business Journal, the Washington Post business section, Bisnow on Business, Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Washington Lawyer, and others).  The topics we are looking for include:

• Recent promotions, appointments, or honors of note.  These may include appointments or honors that you received in connection with an outside activity in which you are engaged (such as being named to the Board of Directors of a volunteer organization that you work with).
• Important deals or matters for your organization - including M&A activity, IPOs or follow-on offerings, important contracts, prevailing in or settling a significant piece of litigation, etc.  Please provide all relevant details, including the names of those in-house counsel, and if appropriate outside counsel, involved in handling the matter.
  

Please submit the information to Ilene Reid at Ilene.Reid@WMACCA.com.

4.  AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:  You have seen a myriad of lists of the "best" lawyers - but how often are in-house counsel on those lists?  And don't we belong there?  Again this year, WMACCA will let you know about opportunities to apply for awards or other recognition.  As the nominations process for such opportunities open, we will let you know about these awards/honors, and urge you to follow up for individual lawyers or your entire department.  For more information, please contact Ilene Reid at Ilene.Reid@WMACCA.com