Resource Library

The attorney general is the main legal advisor in most states. Along with their common law powers to protect the public interest, attorneys general enforce many other state and, in some cases, civil laws. Many offices also are involved with certain criminal cases and criminal appeals; some provide advice and guidance to the agencies and departments of state government. Join a panel discussion, moderated by the former Chief Deputy Attorney General from the Delaware Department of Justice, that will provide an overview of the structure and organization of a state attorney general’s office, best practices for companies interacting with a state attorney general’s office and case examples of how companies successfully navigated (or mismanaged) an attorney general’s investigation.

Many US businesses conduct cross-border transactions with Canadian trading partners. These transactions may involve a security interest in the assets of a Canadian debtor. While Canadian secured transactions law is similar to US state law under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), there are some significant differences that can create confusion for creditors. Secured creditors must understand how to comply with the perfection and priority rules in Canada or they could find their security interests at risk. Acquire a basic understanding of secured transaction, perfection and priority rules under Canada’s Personal Property Security Act (PPSA), including differences between the UCC and PPSA in terminology, filing rules and search practices, as well as the special rules for Ontario and Quebec.

In recessionary times, managers are highly motivated to find creative ways to save money. Managers may consider increasing their reliance on independent contractors, to maximize the flexibility to control labor costs on minimal notice and with less disruption to employees. However, retaining independent contractors or reclassifying existing employees as such without a proper legal basis poses significant risks for the company should the workers' status as independent contractors later be challenged. This article discusses ten practical tips for employers and their in-house counsel to minimize the risks associated with the use of independent contractors, particularly in recessionary times.

This program will address key issues in contract drafting, negotiation, execution and management. Such issues will include the role of counsel in the drafting process, drafting techniques with regard to recitals, definitions, primary and economic operating provisions, representations and warranties, and convenants and conditions. A discussion will also be held on how a legal department can become a better facilitator in the contracting process. It is expected that the presenters will include both inside and outside counsel, and the attendees will be provided with realistic examples from which to develop additional skills.

For many years, the United States drove global anti-corruption efforts through vigorous enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. More recently, other jurisdictions have begun to assert themselves in the anti-corruption arena. Brazil joined those countries in 2014 by enacting a tough new anti-corruption law. This program will cover the main aspects addressed in the new law such as the penalties imposed, incentives for companies to establish and enforce effective compliance programs, leniency provisions and incentives for companies to self-report violations, impact on multinational companies doing business in Brazil and how they can prepare their existing compliance programs, impact on companies conducting internal investigations in Brazil and other relevant aspects.

Take it up a level! When it comes to licensing rights to music and video, ensure that you are covering all of your legal bases. This advanced session will offer hypotheticals and practical guidelines on how to assess your company's needs and secure the requisite permissions, clearances and licenses. From music licensing — American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) — to movie and TV licensing — Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) and Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC) — this panel will examine the current public-performance licensing world and offer tips for the "what, when and how." This is one informative panel you don't want to miss!

This presentation promotes an interactive discussion of the duties and liabilities of directors and officers in the United States, Canada, and other jurisdictions. Of particular interest to in-house counsel in organizations with international operations, the program will focus on rights, liabilities, and other topics of unique importance to directors and officers of your company’s international subsidiaries and affiliates. The duties that are owed, by international directors, to other US-based directors, the corporation, and its shareholders are often scrutinized in the context of change of control transactions, conflict-of-interest disclosure, breach of confidentiality, and insider trading inquiries. The panel and audience will review a number of hypothetical scenarios and consider where conflicts can arise and how they might be proactively managed.

The increasing use of digital media outlets such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube is on a crash course with the corporate world. Employees are engaged with digital technologies that play an ever-increasing role in their everyday lives, including in the workplace. How can you protect your organization from the impact of this new normal? What policies do others have in place? What ethical problems arise with the use of these outlets in the corporate space? This experienced panel representing the technology, financial services, and media industries will discuss the issues that impact compliance and IP in light of these developments. This interactive session will answer these important questions as well as provide the audience with real world examples aimed at helping in-house counsel address this important issue.

The US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is perennially difficult to navigate and has been fertile ground for the plaintiffs’ bar in recent years. New FLSA lawsuits have been filed in increasing numbers every year for the past decade. Now new rules are about to be issued. Do you know what they will mean for your organization? Will they require you to review and possibly change the wage classifications of some of your employees? And how can you go about doing that without wreaking havoc or inviting lawsuits? How will new equal pay and gender equity legislation affect your organization? Join this session for a walk through the new regulations and practical guidance on their interpretation and implementation.

As noted in a recent New York Times article, “there is a widespread belief that software and algorithms that rely on data are objective. But, software is not free of human influence. Algorithms are written and maintained by people, and machine-learning algorithms adjust what they do based on people’s behavior.” In an era where big data is used for decision-making purposes, the legal profession grapples with possible hidden bias and the need for greater transparency in the use of black-box algorithms. This session will explore data ethics and the need for its inclusion in information governance conversations within corporations as entities collect, use, and monetize client data. The session will explore C-suite transparency in connection with software used for insider threat monitoring and surveillance, making hiring decisions, and monitoring various forms of employee behavior.