KEYNOTE SPEAKER | GENERAL SESSION
Cara Hale Alter
Founder & President | SpeechSkills 
2026 In-House Counsel Day | General Session Keynote Address
Thursday, May 7 | 4:00 P.M. - 5:30 P.M. The Power of Visible CredibilityFor in-house counsel, credibility is currency. While legal expertise is essential, how that expertise is communicated often determines whether your advice is trusted, acted upon, or overlooked. Drawing from her book The Credibility Code, communication expert Cara Hale Alter outlines and demonstrates the keystone behaviors of “Visible Credibility”—the body language, vocal cues, and mannerisms that most influence the perception of confidence, competence, and trustworthiness.We'll examine how to: - Project gravitas, both in-person and in virtual settings
- Recognize and prevent the “tells” of nervousness and intimidation
- Strike a balance between authority and approachability
- Maintain composure under pressure
- Avoid unintentional behaviors that may undermine status or confidence
Attendees will additionally receive one year of access to the SpeechSkills Credibility Essentials online program to support continued self-directed practice and habit reinforcement. SPEECHSKILLS Cara Hale Alter deeply understands how nonverbal communication shapes the perception of leadership presence. On stage, she’s an energetic, warm, and compelling presenter, having won numerous national awards for public speaking. As the founder of SpeechSkills, Cara has provided training to some of the world’s best-known companies, including Google, PayPal, Pixar, Pinterest, Kaiser, Schwab, Caterpillar, and Facebook. A guest lecturer at UC Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Hastings College of Law, Cara has also worked with numerous top-100 law firms. She is a frequent media resource, appearing in Forbes.com, The Globe and Mail, USA Today, and countless other media outlets. A past board member of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), Cara has had the pleasure of speaking at more than 500 conferences in 20 different countries. Register for ACC Colorado's IHCF 2026 and join in as the keynote delivers a presentation focused on the unique leadership presence and communication challenges facing career in-house counsel! You will reconnect with your ACC in-house counsel network, generous sponsors, and legal intern placement officers, for a jampacked afternoon of CLE education, serious networking, and a hosted reception! REGISTER!
Four (4) General CLE Credits PENDING. Beverages, Light Snacks, Happy Hour Included. ACC Member Price - $50
Member rate extended to ACC corporate member paralegals and contract managers.
Four (4) General CLE Credits Approved.
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Non-Member Price - $75
Not an ACC Member?
Join Today! Renew Today! Four (4) CLE Credits Pending.
Beverages, Snacks, Happy Hour Included
Lunch is not served. SOCIAL SUMMIT BEVERAGE SPONSOR 
| 1:00 P.M. – 1:50 P.M. – 2 Sessions (1 CLE Credit)
2:00 P.M. – 2:50 P.M. – 2 Sessions (1 CLE Credit)
3:00 P.M. – 3:50 P.M. – 2 Sessions (1 CLE Credit)
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4:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. – General Session (1 CLE Credit)
5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. – Social Summit/Networking*
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Considering hiring Legal Interns?
Questions about working with law students or
recent graduates?
Representatives from local law schools will be on hand
at IHCF to share information and answer questions! |
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM – 2 Sessions 2026 TOPICS COMING SOON! ALPINE 1-3 | ALPINE 4 |
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Choosing the Right Path:
A Corporate Counsel Guide to Litigation, Arbitration, Mediation, and Creative ADR Tools
This presentation will compare the forums of: Presenter:
Allison Burke, Partner, Taft | 
TOPIC/PRESENTERS COMING SOON!
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2:00 PM – 2:50 PM – 2 Sessions 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM – 2 Sessions 
AI Governance for Legal Departments:
Managing Risk, Ethics, and Colorado’s Emerging AI Regulation
Artificial intelligence tools are rapidly being deployed across legal departments and enterprise functions. In-house counsel must now evaluate not only efficiency gains, but confidentiality risks, privilege exposure, vendor liability, and compliance with emerging state regulation — including Colorado’s Artificial Intelligence Act. This session provides a practical governance framework for overseeing AI use internally and by outside counsel. In this presentation, attendees will learn:
• Where AI can safely enhance legal workflows — and where human judgment remains critical
• Ethical duties of competence, supervision, and confidentiality in AI-enabled practice
• How Colorado’s AI regulatory framework impacts enterprise risk assessment
• Contractual protections to consider in AI vendor and outside counsel agreements
• A governance checklist for implementing AI responsibly in 2026
Presenters:
George Ngengwe, Partner, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Camila Tobon, Partner, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP | 
Second to None:
Colorado’s Quest to Lead the Pack in Employment Regulation Explore the top issues facing employers in the rapidly developing Colorado legal landscape including: - Wage enforcement actions
- Bonus and commission plans
- Class actions sparking from common employee agreements
Presenters:
Susanne Mombelli, Of Counsel, Ogletree Deakins
Kaitlin Spittell, Associate, Ogletree Deakins
Tyler Strobel, Associate, Ogletree Deakins
David Zwisler, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER | GENERAL SESSION
Cara Hale Alter | Founder & President 
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Immediately Following | Hosted Reception & Networking5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | Hosted Reception & Networking |
