Senior Managing Legal Counsel
The Boston Consulting Group
Dear ACC Northeast Members, Sponsors, and Friends,
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2026! As we begin the year, I want to start with an invitation and a sincere note of thanks.
To our newest members: ACC Northeast is a community built on participation, and I encourage you to find a program, committee, or activity that resonates with you and get involved. Whether your interests are substantive legal content, professional development, wellness, community service, or simply making new connections, there is a place for you here. And if you’re not quite sure where to start, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m always happy to connect and make introductions.
To our returning members and, especially, our 2026 sponsors: thank you for your continued engagement and support of the Chapter. Your time, energy, and partnership make it possible for us to deliver meaningful programming and sustain a strong, vibrant in-house community across our five-state region.
Looking ahead, we’re starting 2026 with a thoughtful and well-rounded slate of programs designed to support our members both professionally and personally. In March, be on the lookout for our annual Clinic in a Box with Mintz—one of our signature offerings that brings together hands-on legal experience and community impact.
Supporting our members also means recognizing the demands of in-house practice beyond day-to-day legal work. Throughout Q1, we’ll be offering two webinars in partnership with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, focused on mental health and well-being—practical resources designed to support resilience, balance, and long-term sustainability in our profession.
At the same time, the Chapter remains focused on helping members build practical, forward-looking skills that are increasingly critical to in-house teams. That includes navigating AI adoption, governance, and real-world legal use cases. With that in mind, please be sure to save the date for our second annual AI Summit on June 5, 2026 (location to be announced soon), building on the strong momentum of last year’s program with an even greater focus on practical application.
And later this year, we’re incredibly excited that ACC’s Annual Meeting will be coming to Boston in October. Hosting the Annual Meeting in our region is a significant milestone for ACC Northeast and creates unique opportunities for our members to engage with colleagues and in-house practitioners from across the globe, right here at home. We look forward to sharing more details as plans take shape.
As we all gear up for what’s to come in 2026, my hope is for ACC Northeast to continue being a place where members feel supported as professionals and as people—where you can sharpen your skills, share experiences, and build meaningful connections along the way. I’m so grateful to be part of such an engaged and welcoming community, and I look forward to seeing many of you throughout the year as we continue to build it together.
Here’s to a connected, supportive, and impactful 2026!
Warm regards,
Alex Aferiat
President, ACC Northeast
