Events

From Conflict to Consensus: Arbitration in Transactions

Arbitration clauses frequently remain an afterthought, often overlooked in the construction of high-stakes agreements. Commonly, standard provisions are inserted into contracts, potentially binding parties to unfavorable outcomes. Given the thousands of commercial arbitrations filed annually, with millions of dollars often at stake, it is prudent to evaluate these clauses when drafting agreements carefully. This includes deciding whether to opt for arbitration or to retain the possibility of litigation. Whether your organization favors arbitration or litigation, we invite you to explore key drafting strategies to mitigate the related risk within your transactions effectively.

In this seminar, we will:

·  Examine prevailing arbitration trends and assess their respective advantages and disadvantages

·  Analyze types of disputes where arbitration presents a viable solution

·  Compare the arbitration process with traditional litigation measures

·  Enhance your understanding of the benefits and drawbacks associated with each dispute resolution mechanism

·  Offer drafting techniques to refine standard provisions, thereby granting you greater control

 Presenters:

·  Mhare O. Mouradian, Commercial Litigation Partner, Husch Blackwell

·  Remy P. Fesquet, Corporate and M&A Partner, Husch Blackwell

 SPONSOR: Husch Blackwell

2025 Employment Law Update - January 9th - Webinar

As we begin 2025, join Stradling partner Jared Speier for a 90 minute update (1.5 General CLE) on developments in employment law over the last year, new legislation for 2025, necessary PAGA amendments, wage and hour developments, and other areas of concern for in-house counsel. 

SPONSOR: Stradling

SPEAKER: Jared Speier, Partner at Stradling

Speaker: Ian Ballon, Shareholder, Co-Chair Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group, Greenberg Traurig

This annual program, presented by Ian Ballon, will cover:

• Latest AI case law, trends and strategy
• Supreme Court and important circuit court IP case law 
• Rogers v. Grimaldi a year after V.I.P.
• The problem of mass arbitration and mass consumer class action litigation – new litigation strategies and transactional approaches
• Online and mobile contract formation 
• CPRA and other privacy, Adtech and security breach class action litigation - trends, court opinions, and compliance lessons for transactional lawyers
• The First Amendment, service providers, the CDA and children 
• Wire tap scams, mass arbitration and what your TOS, ToU or EULAs should provide for in 2025
• Data reuse and AI - the law and liability issues surrounding machine learning and generative AI
• The future with Trump: likely legal conflicts and opportunities

Speaker:
Ian Ballon, Shareholder, Co-Chair Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group, Greenberg Traurig

This annual program, presented by Ian Ballon, will cover:

• Latest AI case law, trends and strategy
• Supreme Court and important circuit court IP case law 
• Rogers v. Grimaldi a year after V.I.P.
• The problem of mass arbitration and mass consumer class action litigation – new litigation strategies and transactional approaches
• Online and mobile contract formation 
• CPRA and other privacy, Adtech and security breach class action litigation - trends, court opinions, and compliance lessons for transactional lawyers
• The First Amendment, service providers, the CDA and children 
• Wire tap scams, mass arbitration and what your TOS, ToU or EULAs should provide for in 2025
• Data reuse and AI - the law and liability issues surrounding machine learning and generative AI
• The future with Trump: likely legal conflicts and opportunities

All ACC St. Louis members are invited to the 2025 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Sunset 44 in Kirkwood.

During the Annual Meeting on January 23rd, the Chapter will:

· Confirm the nominees for the 2025 Board,

· Election of the 2025 Officers and Directors,

· Announce awardees of the 2024 Member of the Year and 2024 Committee of the Year and the William E. Jaudes Award, and

· Meet our 2025 President.     

Please review the proposed Slate of 2025 Officers and Directors At Large, for election at the Annual Meeting: 

ACC St Louis 2025 Nominating Committee Report

Location:
Sunset 44
118 W. Adams Ave. Kirkwood, MO  63122
Parking:  complimentary parking lot behind restaurant

Time:
5:30 - 8:30 PM

Please note that this is a Members Only Event, as the election of Officers and Directors at Large will take place during the event.

This is a complimentary Members Only event. A credit card will be required to complete registration, but only processed for no-show or late cancellation within 72-hours of the event.

Thank you to our 2025 Annual Meeting & Volunteer Recogntion Sponsor:

Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Beyond the Backlash: A Series on Driving Change and Defying Resistance in DEI

Sponsored by Ogletree

DEI Under Scrutiny: The Impact of Recent Legislation, Court Decisions, and Preparing for a New Administration

Today's business environment is exceptionally challenging. The rapid pace of change, technological advancements, globalization, and shifting consumer expectations require leaders to navigate uncertainty, make complex decisions, and drive continuous innovation in order to deliver results. In this engaging talk, we will discuss the elusive concept of "executive presence", why it is so important for successfully leading, influencing, and motivating others in today's high-pressurized environment - and how we are seeing it evolve. We will also propose an updated framework for cultivating the inherent strengths we all have for stepping confidently into our own compelling and authentic executive power. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are facing scrutiny from all sides, including high-profile challenges to employment policies. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision banning race-conscious admissions in higher education, state legislation banning DEI initiatives in public institutions, and campaign promises made by the new federal administration, private employers are on alert for even more challenges to their own DEI programs. In this session, the speakers will provide an update on state laws, legislation, judicial activity, and a forecast of how the new administration may impact DEI programming for employers.  Topics will include risk assessment and mitigation, the status of reverse discrimination claims, and best practices for maintaining a commitment to inclusion and belonging.

Date: June 21, 2025 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Location: Rosie’s Beach, 5000 East Ocean Blvd, @ Granada Ave, Long Beach 90803

ACC-SoCal, along with our sponsor Fisher Phillips, will be participating in the Justin Rudd Community Action Team Beach Cleanup to help create a clean and safe place for residents, visitors, and aquatic wildlife – just in time for summer!

All ages – as well as dogs (at neighboring Rosie’s Dog Beach) - are welcome. So please feel free to bring your family and friends (human as well as canine) to volunteer with us! Meet at the ACC canopy, and feel free to stay longer to relax at the beach following our brunch.

Trash bags, gloves, complimentary all-day beachfront parking (kiosk code is JUS621), and prizes will be provided. Students will receive a one-hour volunteer service credit for their participation, and Scouts can receive credit toward merit badges. Walking the beach and picking up trash is surprisingly fun and rewarding-will likely be around an hour of the event. Plenty of time to relax and socialize.

Please wear your ACC-SoCal shirts so we can easily locate you for our group photos and photos in action. If you don’t yet have an ACC-SoCal shirt, they will be provided to members at the event. Please register as soon as possible so that we know how many shirts to have available.

Have questions about ACC NCR, its activities, or how it operates?  Join Vice President of Member Engagement Ilona Levine, President-Elect Kathi Westcott, Directors Audrey Jean and Mary Chapin, and other members of the Board for a virtual meet-up to hear about what the chapter is up to and ask questions.  The scope and substance will be driven by the attendees. Come for a few minutes or the entire hour.

This discussion will explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in hiring, where we will examine its benefits, drawbacks, and the latest legal developments. Specifically, the topics will include weighing the efficiency of AI in recruitment against both practical and liability concerns surrounding discrimination and other laws implicated by AI in hiring.