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.

An in-depth list of member-requested topics will be released in March 2026. 

High-level categories that will be most represented on the agenda include: 

• Artificial Intelligence
• 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, please email programdevelopment@acc.com.

• 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

Speaking Slot Opportunities

Speaking opportunities accumulate based upon your role and level of support. Additional speaking slots are US$2,500 each.

E.g., an ACC Network sponsor that is also a Silver Level sponsor will receive up to 3 speaking slots total at the meeting (2 Network slots + 1 Silver slot = 3 speaking slots)

• Gold Level Sponsorship: up to 2 Speakers 
• Silver Level Sponsorship: 1 Speaker
• Blue Level Sponsorship: 0 Speakers 
• ACC Network Sponsorship: up to 2 Speakers
  • Network sponsor speaking slots should be arranged through early collaboration with your Network. Discuss in January which ideas they plan to submit and agree upon those that, if selected by the Advisory Board, will have slots reserved for your participation.

Speaker Selection

• Panels may consist of a maximum of four (4) speakers total. Sessions with more innovative formats may require further discussion about speaker requirements. Please include this information in the "Facilitation Requirements" field on the submission form.
  • One of the four 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.