Events

The Bridges Group has always been about bringing Members together to learn more about the differences and similarities between people.

 An inclusive society is a festival – the FESTIVAL OF NATIONS!   The Festival of Nations is a deliberate step towards building an inclusive society where all can thrive to their fullest potential.

A chance to wine and dine, a musical spectacle, tales from around the world, and a   showcase of the flourishing entrepreneurial spirit of this diverse community.  This is more than just a gathering; it’s an opportunity to engage in cultures other than one’s own, genuinely expand our horizons, and to enrich each person’s worldview in a meaningful way.       

Please bring yourself and/or your family and join the Diversity & Inclusion Bridges Group for an afternoon of global music, crafts, food and experiences at the Largest International Festival of Nations on Saturday, August 26th and Sunday, August 27th. We will provide “passports” to track   the events and booths you attend, with a prize for the individual/group who visits the most attractions.       

This event is free, but registration is essential.   Kindly RSVP for yourself and accompanying family members to ensure we're   well-prepared for your arrival.   

Date:  Saturday, Aug 26 and Sunday, Aug 27
Meet Up Time:  11:00 am
Location:  The Music Stand 

COMING SOON:  Link to the Digital Program and Map

Come and enjoy the music and culture alongside your In-House Colleagues and families!
 

PRELIMINARY AGENDA

10:00AM: Departure from  Vericast / Harland Clarke, 15955 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256

 11:30-12:30PM: 290 Wine Castle, 101 Durango, Johnson City, TX 78636

1:45-2:45PM: Hye Meadow Winery, 10257 West, US-290, Hye, TX 78635

4:00PM: Return to Vericast / Harland Clarke, 15955 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256 

We will have a board business planning session on a separate date- TBD.

Boards of directors are continuing to face a rising number of complicated corporate governance issues from their various stakeholders.  Boards are being pushed to have their companies take positions on issues that are supercharged by political and cultural opinions heavily debated through multiple channels of public discourse. Whether the issues relate to the environment, social causes, new technology, constituency representation, or the latest controversy in the news, in-house lawyers are frequently called upon to provide objective advice on the issues and to work through the legal, financial, and reputational risks with the management team.

The panel will talk through the latest corporate governance hot topics, discuss the various views, and provide practical advice on working with your company and team on issues such as board diversity and inclusion initiatives, ESG initiatives and state-level anti-ESG legislation, climate disclosures, executive compensation, cybersecurity disclosures, artificial intelligence use, risk management, cryptocurrency, and other current topics of interest.

Presented by J. Steven Patterson, Partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth and Anna Lueje, Associate General Counsel, Functional & Governance Lead at Raytheon.

1.5 Hours of VA MCLE pending.

Come to the Walker Art Center on Tuesday, September 19, to help elect ACC MN Chapter directors and officers, then hear a discussion by local GCs about Embedding the Legal Department across the Enterprise.

Perhaps no task is simultaneously as difficult and as important for a GC as working to ensure that the legal department is embedded in the operations of the broader enterprise from the earliest steps. Embedding the legal department in enterprise operations is difficult because legal departments have often been saddled with the moniker “the department of No.” Yet this inclusion is also vital because the risk and cost associated with missteps can be dramatically harmful to not only the business bottom line, but to the broader brand reputation of the business.

In this session, we will explore ways to improve the likelihood that the legal department will be included in earlier stages of the planning and decision-making processes. Learn from colleagues and peers how they have started the transition from the “department of No” to the “department of How” as they seek to balance legal risks with business needs and offer commercially advancing legal advice. We will also examine how using the data your legal department has available, as well as data from other parts of the business, can help to demonstrate the value the legal department brings to the business as yet another means of increasing the likelihood that the legal department will be better utilized across the business.

AGENDA

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Check-in and refreshments

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | ACC MN Annual Meeting (Election)

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | 23rd Annual General Counsel Forum

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Networking reception

GC FORUM PANELISTS

• Mike Browne, General Counsel, Home Services of America
• Derek Goodman, General Counsel, Koch Companies
• Dan Santos, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, UCare
• Rupert Bondy, Chief Legal Officer, United Health Group
• Bill Josten, Senior Manager - Enterprise Legal Thought Leadership, Thomson Reuters Institute (Moderator)

After the program, enjoy refreshments and private access to a current Walker exhibition. The event is open to ACC members and to in-house counsel first-time guests. The program has received approval for 1.5 Standard CLE credits in Minnesota.

Thanks to our Diamond sponsor, Thomson Reuters!

With cyberattacks against global corporations increasing in severity and complexity, it is more important than ever that senior management, and the lawyers who advise them, know how to respond given the legal and regulatory risks across jurisdictions.

Designed to replicate real-world events and stressors, our “war game” event runs through a realistic cyberattack against a global organization with locations across the US and Asia. This highly engaging and interactive, scenario-based presentation covers the roles, best practices and steps that your organization can take to ensure that a bad day doesn’t become a tragic year. It will also address the latest threats and latest regulatory requirements, and will highlight key lessons learned to protect against, prepare for, and effectively respond to any breaches.

Speakers:

Rhys McWhirter, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Michael Bahar, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Agenda:

11:30 am – Registration, Lunch, Networking

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Program

1:00 pm – 1:30- Q&A

With cyberattacks against global corporations increasing in severity and complexity, it is more important than ever that senior management, and the lawyers who advise them, know how to respond given the legal and regulatory risks across jurisdictions.

Designed to replicate real-world events and stressors, our “war game” event runs through a realistic cyberattack against a global organization with locations across the US and Asia. This highly engaging and interactive, scenario-based presentation covers the roles, best practices and steps that your organization can take to ensure that a bad day doesn’t become a tragic year. It will also address the latest threats and latest regulatory requirements, and will highlight key lessons learned to protect against, prepare for, and effectively respond to any breaches.

Speaker:

Rhys McWhirter, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Michael Bahar, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Agenda:

11:30 am – Registration, Lunch, Networking

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Program

1:00 pm – 1:30- Q&A

Head to downtown Minneapolis on Thursday, September 14, 2023, for lunch and an ACC MN CLE program:

Dodging Rampaging Hippogriffs: Divining the Next Decade of Big Minnesota Business Cases

As Harry Potter fans know, Divination is an imprecise art, and Ron pretty much made up his prediction that he would be trampled by hippogriff. Nevertheless, Fredrikson & Byron attorneys David Lillehaug and Nicole Moen will use their combined experience in courtrooms and boardrooms to prognosticate the next big cases in Minnesota business litigation. Lillehaug brings to the tea leaves 40 years of experience as a civil litigator, U.S. Attorney, and Supreme Court Justice. Moen’s Inner Eye is informed by her extensive practice representing individuals and businesses in commercial matters, as well as litigation of a wide variety of business disputes.

AGENDA
11:30 AM - Noon | Check-in and buffet lunch
Noon - 1:00 PM | CLE program

Admission is free and open to ACC members (and to in-house counsel first-time guests). 1.0 Standard CLE credit is pending in Minnesota.

Validated valet parking in the 60 South Sixth Ramp is available.

Thanks to our sponsor, Fredrikson!

Program:

The Potential Risks of Successor Liability

Description:

Many assume that, by structuring an acquisition as an asset purchase, a buyer can avoid its predecessor's liabilities. That's not always the case. This CLE explores exceptions to the general rule of non-liability in Tennessee and other jurisdictions so that in-house counsel can be aware and evaluate the risks of successor liability in the future.  

Agenda:

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Check-In

12:00 - 1:00 PM CLE Program 

Additional Information

TN 1 Hour CLE Credit (Pending)

 Lunch will be provided. 

This event is sold out.  Please join the waitlist.

Cozen O’Connor invites you to an experiential dining concept in a luxury space where you will connect with the faces behind the food. Prepare for a reception-style dinner with beverage pairings. Each food station, along with its inspiration, will be introduced by the chef. We will also have a roaming magician offering mind-blowing sleight of hand magic.

This event is for members of ACC-NYC only.