Career Development

FROM SIDELINES TO THE SUITE: 
A GC's PLAYBOOK 

EMPOWER FIELD CLE, PRIVATE TOUR & RECEPTION 

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 4:30PM - 7:00PM
EMPOWER FIELD AT MILE HIGH | 1701 Bryant St, Denver, CO 80204
 

SOLD OUT!
 

Members: $15 | Non-Members: $25 | One (1) General CLE Credit Approved

AGENDA
4:30PM Registration & Networking
5:00PM CLE Program
5:50PM Private Stadium Tour
6:20PM Reception & Networking 

What’s it like to go from law firm partner to the top legal seat in a professional sports organization? 

Tim Aragon, General Counsel of the Denver Broncos, will give ACC Colorado a look into his move in-house and the legal complexities of a major sports franchise. With Jon Watson of Spencer Fane moderating, this CLE will blend practical insights with interesting anecdotes. Attendees will discover an inside perspective on making the shift from law firm to serving as in-house counsel and behind-the-scenes look at a unique legal landscape.

Immediately following CLE program, stick around for a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium and ACC networking!

SPEAKERS

Tim Aragon, General Counsel, Denver Broncos 
Tim Aragon serves as general counsel for the Denver Broncos and is an active member of the Denver community with more than two decades of experience, Tim joined the Broncos after spending years with the global law firm Hogan Lovells. Most recently, he was Denver office managing partner on Hogan Lovells' Americas-region leadership team while holding various civic board positions, including with the Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Jon Watson, Partner, Spencer Fane 
Jonathon (Jon) Watson represents clients with a singular focus: to serve as a solutions-oriented business partner for employers facing labor and employment issues. What sets Jon apart is his drive to learn clients’ businesses and to give advice based on their unique circumstances and strategic priorities. Jon does more than simply tell clients what “can” and “cannot” be done; he helps clients assess and balance risk to meet each challenge. With a local and national practice, Jon assists businesses ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies to mitigate risk and deliver results that align with their specific business operations.
 

COMPLIMENTARY PARKING (LOT C) & ENTER AT GATE 2

BEFORE YOU GO:

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO ATTEND

 

The ACC Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) is a one-of-a-kind event specifically tailored for rising in-house counsel leaders who demonstrate promise to become general counsel during their careers, and brand-new general counsel with 12 or fewer months serving in their first GC role.

The ELI provides a unique opportunity to engage in enriching discussions with seasoned experts who have successfully navigated the challenges of being a general counsel, including insights, strategies, and best practices to overcome obstacles and drive business success. From managing legal risks to shaping organizational direction, gain the skills to make impactful decisions. 

As a distinguished ELI Fellow, you will join a network of professionals who share a common vision for excellence in the in-house legal community. It's an unparalleled opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with like-minded professionals.

*Eligibility: Participants must report directly to the highest-ranking legal officer of an organization, and hold a title such as deputy general counsel, associate general counsel, managing attorney or general counsel for a division, subsidiary, or region of the organization or serving in the general counsel role for 12 months or less with no prior GC experience. 

In today's litigation environment, the threat of nuclear verdicts—massive monetary judgments that can destabilize corporations, trigger financial crises, and damage brand reputation—has become a critical concern for corporate counsel. To effectively protect organizations from catastrophic legal exposure, corporate legal teams must adopt a synergistic, multidimensional defense strategy that leverages trial expertise, appellate advocacy, and insurance recovery.

This Texas-CLE program, led by Haynes Boone attorneys Victor Vital (Trials), Mark Trachtenberg (Appellate), and Emily Buchanan (Insurance Recovery) with additional insights from Ritu Gupta (Assistant Vice President-Senior Legal Counsel at AT&T Services, Inc) offers an in-depth discussion on how corporate counsel can proactively eliminate, mitigate, or defend against the risk of nuclear verdicts. Through real-world case studies, strategic insights, and proven methodologies, participants will gain practical tools for safeguarding their organizations against potentially devastating verdicts.

Key Topics:

1. Understanding the Nuclear Verdict Phenomenon: Trends, drivers, and risk factors.
2. Trial Strategy for Minimizing Risk: Narrative development, jury persuasion, and damages defense.
3. Appellate Safeguards: Preserving error, shaping key issues, and securing favorable post-trial outcomes.
4. Risk Shifting Strategies: Maximizing insurance coverage and leveraging indemnity obligations to facilitate settlements.

Presented by:

Ritu Gupta
Assistant Vice President-Senior Legal Counsel
AT&T Services, Inc.

Victor Vital
Partner, Trials
Haynes Boone

Mark Trachtenberg
Partner, Appellate
Haynes Boone

Emily Buchanan
Partner, Insurance Recovery
Haynes Boone

ACC Houston Webinar CLE
Enhancing Litigation Strategy with Neutral Analysis
A Powerful Tool for In-House Counsel 
June 3, 2025 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Zoom

Neutral analysis helps in-house counsel assess case strengths, refine strategies, and make informed decisions. This program explores early neutral evaluation and its role in guiding case strategy and settlement. It also covers later-stage tools like mock trials and moot arguments that offer feedback to prepare for trial or arbitration and improve litigation outcomes.

In today’s competitive legal landscape, a strong personal brand is essential for standing out and making a lasting impact—whether you're in-house counsel, at a law firm, or in another legal role.  But personal branding isn’t just about visibility; it’s also about influence. The ability to craft and deliver a compelling narrative can be a powerful tool for negotiation, advocacy, and leadership.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion where experienced legal leaders will share strategies for defining and communicating your unique value. Our panelists will explore how storytelling can elevate your personal brand, strengthen professional relationships, and position you for career growth. More than that, you’ll gain practical insights into how effective storytelling can be used as a strategic tool—helping you persuade, negotiate, and advocate more effectively with clients, colleagues, business leaders, and stakeholders. Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your communication skills and enhance your impact in the legal profession.

 
Key topics include:
 
1. Defining Your Brand: Identifying your strengths, values, and unique attributes.
2. Building Visibility: Utilizing social media and other platforms to amplify your brand.
3. Storytelling Techniques: Crafting narratives that resonate, inspire, and influence.
4. Navigating Challenges: Overcoming common obstacles in personal branding and storytelling.
 
Whether you are looking to advance within your organization or expand your influence in the broader legal community, this panel will provide you with the tools and inspiration to elevate your personal brand. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals and take your career to the next level.
 
Join us for a dynamic and interactive session that promises to be both informative and empowering."

Generously sponsored by Seyfarth Shaw LLP and the Law Department Management Network

This program originally aired on March 11, 2025. Please note that this program recording is not eligible for CLE/CPD credit.

Stream this program in commemoration of International Women's Day and hear from a panel of distinguished ACC Hong Kong members as they share their career journeys, the pivotal actions that helped propel their success, and practical steps managers and individuals can take to drive meaningful progress in their careers.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and be part of the conversation on how we can all take action to accelerate progress.

Presented by:

This event is open to all ACC Chicago members, but will be of particular interest to in-house counsel who are new to their in-house positions and/or looking to grow within their legal team.

Transitioning to or elevating your role within an in-house legal department comes with unique challenges and opportunities.  A panel of experienced in-house counsel will explore the key differences from other legal careers and provide insights into successfully integrating into a new organization, avoiding common missteps, and debunking myths about in-house practice. Learn how to build trust with business teams, navigate internal roadblocks, and foster collaboration. 

The panelists will share strategies for working effectively with outside counsel, networking for career advancement, and positioning yourself for business-side opportunities. Whether you’re new to in-house or looking to take on a new leadership role within your in-house team, this discussion will offer practical guidance for long-term success.

DINNER WITH CHIEF LEGAL OFFICERS 
ANNUAL DINNER

The Evolving Role of CLO:

From General Legal Counsel to Corporate Officer in a Time of 
Fiscal Uncertainty, Increased Regulatory Oversight and Smaller Corporate Budgets

 Thursday, August 21, 2025
OCEAN PRIME

8000 E Belleview Ave C10, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Belleview Promenade

Registration & Reception 5:30 pm | Dinner & Discussion 6:00 pm | Conclusion 7:30pm

REGISTRATION: $40.00 | MEMBERS ONLY 
One (1) CLE Credit Approved.

MEMBERS* ONLY 

The role of the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) is evolving from traditional legal advisor to a strategic corporate officer with broad organizational influence. In these times of fiscal uncertainty, CLOs are increasingly expected to contribute to cost management and risk mitigation well beyond legal matters. With heightened regulatory oversight, CLOs must proactively guide corporate compliance and governance to protect the organization’s integrity. Shrinking corporate budgets are pushing CLOs to find innovative ways to deliver legal services more efficiently, and this transformation underscores the CLO’s growing importance as a key decision-maker in shaping business strategy and ensuring long-term resilience.

Join your ACC colleagues for this annual dinner program as select Colorado CLOs offer individual table discussions and valuable insight on the following:

• How has the role or the expectations for CLO shifted in the past 5 years (with a larger focus to be a business lead as opposed to an evaluator and mitigator of risk?
• With the current macro economic climate, many companies are tightening their budgets, implementing cost cutting measures or streamlining workloads. Are such changes happening for companies represented at the dinner and how are CLOs involved in managing these?
• How is the CLO involved in navigating the changes in DEI and ensuring culture and hiring is still achieving the company’s goals?
• Are CLOs seeing an increase in regulatory oversight and how are companies responding? 
• How are hiring pipelines for in-house counsel faring? 

• What may more junior in-house attorneys be cautious of in their growth or what should they be doing to position themselves in the best way inside a company? 

  TABLE SPEAKERS
  
   

  Marc Bonora, Chief Legal Officer, AccentCare
  
  Ben Carver, General Counsel, Ambrosia Biosciences
  
  Mary Gritzmacher, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, CoorsTek

   

  Jyll Lottner, Vice President, Head of Legal Services, CorePower Yoga
  
  Quincy Stott, General Counsel, Maxar Space Systems

   

  Elizabeth Vonne, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Advanced Energy

  ~~~

  * ACC Colorado reserves to the right to confirm active ACC membership and 
  qualified in-house counsel status of all event registrants. 
  Click to learn more about & how to join ACC Colorado!

Join us for a live conversation that offers a deeper dive into our Docket article published Feb 5 titled "How to Transition Careers in an Era of Disruptive Tech."

The topics to be discussed include:

1. How do we expect AI to disrupt the legal workforce?
2. How will in-house attorneys be required to change the way they practice law?
3. Why are career transitions hard for lawyers in particular, and is AI something to be feared for those lawyers who resist change?
4. What makes a career transition "strategic"?
5. Is there one type of career trajectory that is more "strategic" than another?
6. In what ways does demonstrating adaptability and ability to evolve your legal practice bring value to your career and to your organization?
7. In which instances can self-labeling and self-imposed restraints on your career trajectory lead to career stagnation?
8. What are the reasons lawyers should welcome AI as an opportunity to take control of their career trajectory? 
9. What are some ways lawyers can "meet the moment" as generative AI becomes commonplace in an in-house legal department setting?"