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The 2025 Annual Meeting Call for Programs is now closed. View the full program agenda here. The 2026 Annual Meeting Call for Programs will open in the fall.

AM26 will be held October 4-7 in-person in Boston, MA. Submitters of accepted ideas will be responsible for organizing their selected sessions. Please see below for additional guidance and information.

*By in-house, for in-house: To ensure the presentation of an in-house perspective, selected partners may be required to collaborate with one of ACC’s networks on the substance of their program. Refusal to participate in the collaboration process may result in revocation of the program opportunity.

 

Key Background Information

ACC: The World's Largest Community of In-house Counsel 

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global bar association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for corporations, associations and other private-sector organizations through information, education, networking opportunities and advocacy initiatives.

With more than 40,000 members employed by over 10,000 organizations in 85 countries, ACC connects its members to each other and to the people and resources necessary for their personal and professional growth.

What is a "Corporate Counsel?"

Corporate counsel, also known as in-house counsel, are lawyers employed by companies, as opposed to law firms, government agencies, etc. Their client whom they advise on legal matters is the company itself, as opposed to individuals.

The ACC Annual Meeting

The ACC Annual Meeting is the trade association’s largest annual conference with a 40+-year history. Attendees join to receive updates on important legal and practice issues, earn their required Continuing Legal Education credits, develop their business acumen, and network with other in-house attorneys. 

Submitting Different Formats

Panel Format Programs:

A Panel Format program consists of 3-4 speakers, typically presenting their content from a head table or other seated stage setup. Panels may include polling and/or audience Q&A, but do not involve audience participation beyond that.

Each Panel Format program idea submission requires the following information:

  • Title
  • Course Description
  • Special accommodations (i.e. technology, room set-up, etc.)
  • Audience Skill Level
  • Session Duration*

*Most sessions will be 60, 75, or 90 minutes. You may designate a preferred length for your session, and will be notified of your program’s final scheduled duration with your session selection notification in March.

 

Innovative Format Programs*:

Any session that does not qualify as a Panel Format should be submitted as an Innovative Format program. Read through examples of innovative format programs in the Example Engaging Format Submissions resource for inspiration and guidance.

In addition to the basic information required for panel format program submissions, innovative submissions will require:

  1. An identified Program Organizer that will be responsible for recruiting and preparing speakers and facilitators
  2. An explanation of the session’s facilitation needs and interactivity separate from the course description

*Including audience polling on its own does not justify an “innovative format” designation. Innovative formats must be a novel or sophisticated plan for engaging the audience beyond polling questions throughout the presentation.

A Note on Ethics Sessions

If you plan to submit an ethics/professional responsibility CLE-eligible session:

  • Session description must clearly state the relevant rule(s) of professional conduct
  • Presentation and slide deck must dedicate a reasonable amount of time to:
    • Stating the relevant rule(s)
    • Sharing practical considerations for corporate counsel
    • Directing to more information
  • Course materials must include the answer and explanation for any hypotheticals

Helpful Resources for Preparing Submissions

Advanced-level Session Guidance
Consider this guidance from the outset to ensure that your advanced-level session actually hits the mark.
Engaging Format Examples
Browse examples of engaging innovative and panel format sessions from previous Annual Meetings.
Submission Prep Tool
Helps organize and prepare your submissions.

Step-by-Step Submission Instructions

  1. Log in to the submission portal
     
  2. Click on the “Add Program Idea + ” button to begin entering submission details (i.e., title, description, format, audience skill level, duration, in-person vs virtual preference, etc.) 
     
  3. Once the program information is entered, select a submission status: Save & Edit Later or Final Submit
    • Only programs marked “Final Submit” by the deadline will be considered for selection
  4. Click “Save Program Idea” and close the box to return to the main screen and add another program idea 
    • Repeat steps 2-4 as necessary to enter all submissions
  5. Once complete, click to finalize your submission. You will receive a confirmation email with final submission details at the address provided
    • NOTE: Once finalized, you will not be able to edit your submission

Important Dates

Item

Date
Program Submission Deadline Mon., Jan. 26, 2026
Program Selection Notifications Sent Fri., March 13, 2026
Program Organizer Submission Deadline* Fri., March 27, 2026
Speaker Submission Deadline** Fri., May 8, 2026
Course Material Submission Deadline Fri., Aug. 7, 2026

*ACC confirms Program Organizer and speaker submissions on a rolling basis.

**Additional speaker selection rules and guidelines will be provided following program selection. ACC reserves the right to decline speakers if they do not meet these criteria.

Other Submission Information

  • Tips for Preparing Successful Program Ideas

    As you develop each idea, ask yourself...

    • How long should this session be? Consider the appropriate scope for your presentation, and the time required to effectively deliver the content.
    • Been there, done that? If you’ve seen a program on this topic before, then articulate what you will do differently that will make yours more valuable.
    • Is this too basic? What can you do to dig deeper into the subject and level-up your program’s appeal for experienced lawyers? 
    • How will you engage the audience? Plan and articulate your vision for making your lessons stick through workshopping, games, audio/video incorporation, or other effective teaching techniques.
    • What will the attendee actually learn? Proposals that describe specific, practical learning objectives tend to result in higher quality presentations. 
    • What resources will your attendees take back to the office? Identify takeaway materials in advance and develop plans for incorporating them into the presentation. 
    • How big is your potential audience? Hundreds of members from around the globe attend the ACC Annual Meeting; limiting your scope to US issues cuts down on the appeal of your program.
    • Do in-house counsel from large and small legal departments handle or experience this differently? If so, be sure to address that in the description and plan to recruit both types of speakers if your idea is selected.
    • Can I realistically find qualified, available speakers for this program by the deadline? If not, please consider a different submission.

  • 2026 Annual Meeting Curriculum

    This list sheds light on the high-level categories most selected programs will fall into at the meeting. However, we welcome submissions outside the scope of this list.

    • Business & Leadership    
    • Career Development
    • Compliance
    • Contract Drafting
    • Corporate Governance
    • Cross-border/Global
    • Data Privacy & Security
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Employment & Labor
    • Environment & Energy
    • Ethics
    • Government Regulation
    • Health Law
    • Information Governance
    • Intellectual Property
    • Law Department Management
    • Legal Operations 
    • Litigation and Dispute Resolution
    • Negotiations
    • Networking Opportunities
    • Technology
    • Wellness

    For more in-depth insights into any of these areas, please email Rachel Okolski at programdevelopment@acc.com.

  • Attendee Profile

    • Audience Size: Approximately 2,000 corporate counsel
    • Experience: Most attendees have extensive legal industry careers, but their time in-house varies from new corporate counsel to seasoned Chief Legal Officers  
    • Specialization: 
      • More than half of attendees are from small law departments, meaning that they handle the general legal responsibilities of the organization, often, with little support
      • Approximately 35% of attendees come from large law departments, whose legal practice tends to be more specialized (e.g., an employment lawyer for a large corporation) 
    • Responsibilities: 
      • Beyond providing legal advise to their organizations, the role of in-house counsel has evolved to require these professionals to understand their company’s business and serve as a trusted advisors to all sectors company-wide
      • Most hold management responsibilities, either of other legal or non-legal staff
    • Industry: Attendees’ employers represent a vast array of industries, but the largest represented typically include: manufacturing; information technology; financial services & banking
    • Geographic: Mostly US attendees, approximately 10% non-US
    • Gender: Approximately half women, half men

  • Speaker Recruitment Sneak Peek

    Speaker Selection

    • Panels may consist of a maximum of four (4) speakers total. Innovative format sessions have flexible speaker requirements. Please include this information in the "Facilitation Requirements" field on the submission form.
      • We strongly recommend fewer speakers for 60- or 75- minute programs.
      • One speaker should be assigned to serve as moderator for panel sessions.
      • Approved in-house speakers will receive a complimentary meeting registration.
    • In-house Counsel Ratio: In-house counsel should comprise the majority of speakers on every session, absent prior approval from ACC. 
      • Exceptions are granted for programs that recruit regulators, judges, academics, non-legal business leaders, and others that are neither sponsor nor in-house counsel. 
      • Approved non-in-house speakers will be issued a day pass for the day of their speaking engagement.
    • Outside counsel and/or legal service providers may speak on panels only if their organization is a sponsor of the 2026 Annual Meeting. 
    • ACC reserves the right to decline speakers if they do not meet the criteria.
    • Additional speaker guidelines will be provided following Program Selection.

Questions?

Contact Moustafa Abdel-Kader, Director of Business Development