REGISTER NOW: ACC Colorado In-House Counsel Forum 2026 with Keynote Cara Hale Alter

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!

Choosing the Right Path: 
A Corporate Counsel Guide to Litigation, Arbitration, Mediation, and Creative ADR Tools  

This presentation will compare the forums of:

• Creative ADR mechanisms 

• Selecting the right path for a particular dispute

• How to implement an effective process

Presenter: 
Allison Burke, Partner, Taft

IP, IT, and Data in M&A Deals: 
Key Issues for Buyers and Sellers

IP, IT, and data assets increasingly drive both value and risk in M&A transactions, and the issues that matter most often differ depending on whether you are on the buy side or the sell side. This session will provide a practical overview of the key areas that routinely shape diligence and negotiations, including IP ownership and licensing, data use and privacy considerations, cybersecurity exposures, and dependencies on SaaS and other third party technologies. We will also touch on emerging issues such as AI and software development, and how they influence risk allocation and post closing integration. In this presentation, attendees will learn:
•    How IP, IT, and data privacy risks differ for buyers and sellers, and what each side should prioritize
•    Common pitfalls involving licenses, data rights, cybersecurity, and open source software
•    Practical steps in house counsel can take to identify issues early and manage risk throughout the deal

Presenters:
Peter Kinsella, Perkins Coie Partner
Sean Belding, Perkins Coie Counsel    

Managing Outside Counsel Relationships: What In-House Counsel Expect (and What Actually Works)

Thomson Reuters recently reported that the greatest area for improvement in the relationship in-house attorneys have with their law firms centers on “value,” which accounted for 29 percent of criticisms heard from survey participants. Another 23 percent cited concerns about the quality of work from outside counsel, and the top two concerns tied to “service” had to do with responsiveness and communication.

This panel discussion will explore best practices in-house counsel can leverage to capture maximum value in their relationship with outside law firms – a dynamic that has room for improvement, according to a recent Thomson Reuters report. Join us as panelists share candid, real world perspectives on what makes an outside counsel relationship effective, efficient, and worth the investment. The conversation will focus on practical strategies that help in house counsel get the right legal support while maintaining control over budget, risk, and business outcomes.

Presenters:
Robin Nolan, Partner, Spencer Fane
Julie Stencel, Assistant General Counsel, Xcel Energy

TOPIC COMING SOON!  

Presenter:
Laura Sturges, Of Counsel, Gibson Dunn

 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:

Lindsey Schultz, Senior Managing Counsel & Head of Program, Governance & Policy, Visa Global Privacy Office
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