In the decisions Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC, the Supreme Court held that race-based affirmative action programs in college admission processes violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Join us for our Fifth Annual DEI Conference as we discuss how these landmark decisions are reshaping Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within companies. 

 As organizations strive to foster diverse and inclusive workplaces, they must now consider the impacts of these decisions. During this conference, we will discuss whether and how a company should adjust their DEI initiatives or policies in response to this ruling. Additionally, we will examine how this decision may influence recruitment and hiring practices as well as retention and employee development efforts. Leave this conference with actionable insights to navigate this evolving landscape.

The Conference Agenda includes:

· Session One: How the SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling Impacts the DEI Landscape - presented by Stacy Hawkins, Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School & Diversity Consultant

· Session Two: Recruitment & Hiring – Practical Solutions for In-House Lawyers in this Current Climate - sponsored by Paul Hastings

· Session Three: Retention & Advancement - Building DEI Considerations into Employee Development, Advancement, and Promotion Processes Post-Harvard – sponsored by Crowell & Moring

· DEI Spotlight: Otsuka Pharmaceuticals 

· Small-Group Conversations: Designed to provide an opportunity for you to benchmark with your peers

Click HERE to see a detailed Agenda of the Conference.

The presentation of the conference will be online and we invite you to join the webcast from a variety of locations. You can join remotely from your home or office; or in-person from one of four locations throughout the region. By joining at one of the four locations, you can enjoy connection with colleagues while the webcast airs and during the small-group conversations over lunch. (Lunch will be provided to those who attend an in-person location). 

When you register you will be asked to select one of the following:

• DEI Conference: Webcast (Your Home or Office)

• DEI Conference: In-Person Location - LMI (Tysons, VA)

• DEI Conference: In-Person Location - Davis Construction (Rockville, MD)

• DEI Conference: In-Person Location - Fannie Mae (Washington, DC) 

2.0 hours of VA MCLE pending

Calling all Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Affinity Group members & allies! Join our 2024 planning meeting and come ready to discuss ideas and events that you’d like to see for our group in 2024.

 We recognize the diversity and richness of our community and we invite you to participate in this discussion whether you self-identify as Asian American including Chinese, South Asian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, or any other member of the Asian community, if you have intersecting identifies, or just want to join us as we create space and time for an exploration of our experiences as an ethnic group. 

We look forward to virtually connecting with you for an enriching discussion!   

WEBINAR LINK:

https://accinhouse.zoom.us/j/97739834756

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
"Promoting Queer Inclusivity & Allyship"
Presented by Stradley Ronon

In order to be an ally to queer friends, family, and co-workers, all of us must first understand the language of queer sexuality and gender expression and embrace how this language is used in our communities.  This one-hour CLE does just that, beginning with practical explanations of the most important terms you undoubtedly hear every day and a discussion of why pronoun usage and self-expression is so fundamental to queer people.  The CLE then moves to its second half, which focuses on practical suggestions and best practices about how to be inclusive with your queer colleagues.

Speakers:

• Brian Seaman, Partner and Chief Diversity Officer, Stradley Ronon
• Cameron Redfern, Associate, Stradley Ronon

Join us as we discuss the dynamic landscape of government contracting supply chains. Panelists will explore the complexities surrounding regulations, compliance, and contractual obligations that intersect in this domain. With a focus on navigating procurement laws, the discussion aims to provide insights into the evolving legal framework shaping government contractor supply chains.

Attendees can expect an in-depth exploration of current trends and best practices, fostering a deeper understanding of the legal landscape crucial for successful and compliant government contract engagements.

Topic areas will include:

• Cybersecurity and software security requirements
• Domestic preference mandates
• Prohibited sources
• Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act
• Section 889 Telecommunications ban and TikTok prohibition
• NDAA developments
• Inflation issues
• Consequences for noncompliance

 Presented by Stacy Hadeka and Mike Scheimer, Partners at Hogan Lovells and Sean Bamford, Director & Associate General Counsel for Government Contracts and Cyber Security and Michele Hill, Associate General Counsel at Lockheed Martin Corporation.

1.5 Hours of VA MCLE pending.

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast

Session 1 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
"Pumping the Brakes on the Slippery Slope of AI"
Presented by Fisher Phillips

When Henry Ford introduced the first automobile, it did not have brakes.  Right now, that’s AI.  AI is dominating our international conscience.  While AI has a lot of promise, it also has many dangers. AI is growing at an unprecedented rate as every day there is a new tool, platform or service that promises to help businesses. But like Henry Ford’s firs automobile, AI needs brakes.  Governments, organizations, and international bodies are trying to keep pace to establish frameworks to govern the development and deployment of AI. These efforts are driving the developing area of AI governance – the brakes for AI.  This presentation will explore questions like:  what is Ai governance; what does it involve; how do companies currently employ principles of AI governance; how does current AI regulation incorporate these principles; and how will AI governance shape future regulation?  In answering these questions, we will cover topics such as privacy, transparency, accountability, data provenance, and bias mitigation.

Speaker:

• David Walton, Partner, Fisher Phillips
• Jennifer McGlinn, Vice President and General Counsel, Eurofins NSC US, Inc.
  

Session 2 - 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
"Emerging and Diverging State ESG Requirements" Presented by Cozen O'Connor

ESG has become a polarizing topic in today’s corporate world. While sustainability and ESG, especially S, gained significant focus after the events of George Floyd’s murder and the Covid-19 pandemic, the anti-ESG movement has gained traction. This panel will explore various ESG-related regulations being introduced by different states, their impacts on businesses and industries, and the potential challenges and opportunities they present. The panel will also explore how companies and investors are navigating these differing requirements and the potential implications for long-term business practices and available investment strategies.

Speakers:

• Sarah Schlossberg, Of Counsel, Cozen O’Connor
• Angela Curry, VP, Chief Compliance Officer, Bentley Systems
• Julia Fish, Investment Specialist, Sustainable & Impacting Investing, Managing Director, Glenmede
• Jessica Milner, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, UGI Corporation

Session 3 - 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
"When the Government Comes Knocking: How to Engage with Regulators"
Presented by Dechert LLP

Does your team know how to respond when faced with a subpoena, inquiry, or knock on the door? Join us as we examine current areas of regulatory focus and discuss strategic steps to successfully guide an institution through a government inquiry. We will address risk mitigation, documentation, evaluation of policies and procedures, best practices for managing employees, and reputational risk. This session will include an interactive exercise geared toward identifying best practices in resolving high stakes investigations with minimal cost or reputational risk to the company.

• Clare Pozos, Partner, Dechert LLP
• Maria Carrillo, Associate General Counsel, Regional Compliance Counsel – Americas, Global Ethics and Compliance, Jabil
• Matt Hogan, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Government Affairs Compliance, Aramark

Lunch Discussion
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

We are taking a new approach to our lunch programming.  Instead of having a speaker, each table will select a “table topic” to discuss among themselves that is related to any number of issues that are relevant to General Counsels.