Events

Join ACC Michigan and our generous sponsor, Brooks, for an evening of celebration and entertainment at our annual Holiday Celebration. This years theme is Casino Night!

Enjoy an exciting night featuring classic casino table games, delicious food, and great company. Each guest will receive
casino chips to join in the fun—no real money required.

Celebrate the season in style with ACC Michigan and
experience an unforgettable night of networking and festive cheer!

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

M1 Concourse
1 Concourse Drive
Pontiac, MI 48341

**Arrival and parking instruction will be provided to all attendees as event nears**

ACCHK x Linklaters will be hosting two panel sessions to discuss the impact of the first 10 years of the Competition Ordinance.

Join us, along with senior representatives of the Hong Kong Competition Commission and other active members of the legal and business community that have helped shape these first years of the competition law regime.

Event Details:
Date: 11 December, 2025
Time: 9:00 - 11:00am

Agenda:
09:00 - 09:30am      Registration
09:30 - 10:15am      Making the Mark: Recounting Ten Year of Achievements
10:15 - 11:00am      Pressing On: Steering Competition in Hong Kong and Beyond

Location: Linklaters Office, 11/F Alexandra House, 8 Chater Road, Central

Join us for a dynamic lunchtime legal update led by experts from the international Digital Business Group at Simmons & Simmons. During this session they will unpack the most significant digital and data related regulatory developments across the EU and UK in 2025. From the phased implementation of the EU AI Act, EU Digital Services Act, EU Data Act, and NIS2 Directive, to the UK's evolving Data (Use and Access) Act, Online Safety Act, and Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act, this session will provide a comprehensive look back at the year’s legal milestones.

Simmons & Simmons will also guide you through a practical checklist of priority compliance items for 2026, including:

• Preparing for high-risk AI system obligations under the EU AI Act

• EU Data Act – relevance for US cloud service providers (incl. SaaS and AIaaS)

• The future of AI and data regulation in the UK

• Navigating new consumer subscription protections under the UK DMCCA 

• Addressing cybersecurity and vulnerability reporting duties in line with EU digital laws (AI Act, NIS2).

This session will equip you with key information about the current status of digital regulation in the EU and UK and help you to stay ahead in 2026.

Agenda:

11:30AM - 12:00PM Registration, Lunch, Networking

12:00PM - 1:00PM CLE Program

Simmons & Simmons Speakers:

Emily Jones, Partner, UK qualified, Head of US office*

Alex Brown, Partner, UK

Christopher Götz, Partner, Germany

Olivia Ward, Supervising Associate, UK qualified, US based*

*the US office of Simmons & Simmons does not practice US law

Pay equity litigation has not slowed down in 2025 and pay disclosure laws are proliferating. This program will summarize key current developments and provide helpful advice on a range of compensation-related topics, including DMV updates, changes to pay equity analyses in light of the attack on DEI and a brief summary of what U.S. lawyers representing multi-national employers need to know.

Presented by Carson H. Sullivan, Partner, Madalyn Doucet, Associate at Paul Hastings LLP, and Lesley Marlin, Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment at FINRA.

This CLE will run from 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET.

1.0 Hours of VA MCLE pending.

Join ACC St. Louis and The Hesse Group  for a unique experience and CLE on Thursday, December 11th at the St Louis Martial Arts Academy!

This program combines philosophy with physical practice to enhance your skills as a Corporate Counsel.

As a Corporate Counsel, you are responsible for safeguarding your organization from both internal and external challenges. 

Developing a clear understanding of these strategies will not only strengthen your effectiveness but also make for an engaging experience as you learn practical self-defense and team-building techniques infused with centuries-old philosophical principles.

Wear comfortable clothing and come ready to move, reflect and engage to sharpen strategic thinking, focus and effectiveness both in the workplace and in life. 

CLE Value:
1.2 Hours CLE Missouri

Speakers:
Chris Hesse, Attorney/Owner, The Hesse Group
Jay Repaso, Senior Counsel, Mastercard

Time:
4:30 - 5:00 CLE Check-in and Networking 
5:00 - 6:00 CLE Presentation   
6:00 - 7:00 Reception 

Location: 
St Louis Martial Arts Academy 
46A Worthington Access Drive 
Maryland Heights, MO  63043 
Complimentary Parking in front of the building

We look forward to seeing you IN-PERSON on Thursday, December 11th at the St Louis Martial Arts Academy!

EVENT SCHEDULE

                         12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Registration (Lunch is not provided.)

                         12:50 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - ACCWPA Annual Meeting /Election

                           1:00 p.m. to 1:05 p.m. - Welcome

                           1:05 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Program

                           4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Networking Reception

Join the ACC Western Pennsylvania Chapter and Reed Smith for an afternoon of insightful programming and networking!

The boot camp will consist of three one-hour CLEs:

• Federal Retreat and State Advances: ESG Risk, Enforcement Shifts, and Global Market Pressures
  Presenters:  Jennifer Smokelin and Randa Lewis
• The Wild Blue Yonder: Navigating Aviation Insurance in the Wake of the Invasion of Ukraine
  Presenters:  George Stewart and Max Louik
• You Be the Judge: Ethics Edition
  Presenters: Patricia Antezana and Marcin Krieger

Please plan to arrive by 12:50 p.m. The Chapter will host its annual meeting of members for the purpose of electing 2026 Officers and Directors.

Following the boot camp, you are invited to join us for a networking hour, where attendees will have the opportunity to connect and discuss the day’s learnings over refreshments. 

If you are unable to attend the bootcamp but would like to join us for the networking reception, you are welcome to do so.

The annual flagship event of the Department of Justice – the Hong Kong Legal Week – will be held from 1 to 5 December 2025. With the theme of “Linking Laws, Bridging Worlds”, the Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 provides an opportunity for participants to participate in a series of professional and insightful discussions and exchanges with prominent experts, practitioners, government officials and academics on a wide spectrum of topics from international law, developments in alternative dispute resolution, LawTech and AI, opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt & Road, to the rule of law in the region and beyond. 

We look forward to seeing you in Hong Kong Legal Week 2025.

Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the annual BIP Asia Forum brings IP users, owners, investors, professionals and business leaders from all over the world to discuss the latest developments in the IP world, and to explore business collaboration opportunities. The fourteenth edition of the Forum was held in-person at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 5-6 December 2024 with great success, featuring over 100 prominent speakers worldwide and attracted more than 3,000 participants. The upcoming edition will be held on 4-5 December 2025. Mark your diary now!