Eastern Daylight Time

Please join ACC NCR's Café con Leche Affinity Group and HNBA as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an engaging summit among industry leaders about risk, opportunity, and the future of workplace diversity and empathy in the wake of  SFFA v. Harvard. ACC NCR Platinum Sponsor Womble Bond Dickinson will facilitate the working session among public and private leaders as we navigate the path forward for developing and supporting a culture of empathy, diversity, and inclusion in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and our collective love of food, we will also feature Latin American and Hispanic-inspired cuisine.

Speakers Include:

• Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• Kavita Ramakrishnan, Mansfield Rule & Knowledge Sharing Senior Director, Diversity Lab
• Marcantonio Barnes, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
• Elizabeth M. Iglesias, Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law
• Madeleine Plascencia, Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law

All Association of Corporate Counsel and Hispanic National Bar Association corporate members are invited to attend. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE TO OUR COVID-SAFETY PROCEDURES: The health and safety of all attendees at our events is of utmost importance to ACC NCR. We strongly encourage all those who attend ACC NCR events to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, as defined by the CDC. Please do not attend our events in-person if you are feeling ill or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. If while you are with us you begin to feel ill or experience symptoms associated with COVID-19, we expect that you will promptly leave, or we may ask you to leave. We will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the CDC and local public health agencies as we endeavor to hold safe events.  We will keep registrants and attendees updated on any necessary changes to our event protocols.

September 13, 2023 Employment & Labor CLE Institute

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

Session 1 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
"Multi-State Employment Workforce Challenges" Presented by Saul Ewing LLP

Employers that have historically had employees in one or very few states are encountering a tight labor market post-COVID, which is requiring additional out of state hires. Employers hiring employees in new states may not have considered the numerous compliance challenges that may arise.

Speakers:

• Carolyn A. Pellegrini, Partner, Saul Ewing LLP
• Katie Calabrese, Sr. HR Manager, Security Risk Advisors Intl, LLC

Session 2 - 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
"Internal Investigations" Presented by Jackson Lewis P.C.

This session will cover best practices and recent trends in the world of internal investigations, combining inside and outside counsel perspectives on this vital area.  Topics will include the nature and scope of the employer’s duty to investigate, investigation triggers, interview preparation, interview techniques, building a defensible record, and common challenges (and how to solve them).

Speakers:

• Daniel L. Blanchard, Associate, Jackson Lewis P.C.
• Daniel F. Thornton, Associate, Jackson Lewis P.C.
• Janet Lee, Senior Counsel - Labor & Employment,  Avantar

Session 3 - 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
"Implications of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act Compliance"  Presented by Stevens & Lee

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect on June 27, 2023 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued its proposed PWFA regulations.  Comments on the proposed regulations will be accepted through October 10, 2023.  The PWFA requires covered entities to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified workers, e.g., those affected by “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions,” which include, but are not limited to:  assistance applying for a position; assistance performing in the employee’s current position (breaks, time off from work, etc.).  More than 30 states and cities have laws that provide accommodations for pregnant workers, but the PWFA greatly expands the protections that have been put in place under federal and most state laws in terms of accommodations for pregnant workers. 

Similar in spirit, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act) is a new law that makes several important changes to the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law, which has required since 2010 that employers nationwide provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for lactating employees to pump milk during the workday. 

The purpose of this presentation is to assist you in understanding the steps that you should take as an organization to comply with these two (2) important laws from a policy and an employee relations perspective

Speakers:

• Lisa M. Scidurlo, Shareholder, Stevens & Lee
• Theresa M. Zechman, Shareholder, Stevens & Lee
• Mariette Mooyman, Associate General Counsel, Communications Test Design, Inc.

In-house counsel are frequently required to coordinate internal investigations arising in a variety of contexts—from workplace issues, to whistleblower complaints, to investigations arising from government inquiries.  Regardless of the substantive issues involved, internal investigations can also be rife with ethical considerations, such as issues of preservation, employee representation, choosing the right investigators, and reporting findings of an investigation. 

This program will explore those issues through the lens of the Virginia Rules of Professional Responsibility, with a focus on how to address ethical concerns early on in anticipation of potential litigation and/or cooperation with a private adversary or government entity. 

Presented by Katie Trefz and Simon Latcovich, Partners at Williams & Connolly, Todd Braunstein, General Counsel (International); Global Head of Litigation/Investigations at WTW (formerly Willis Towers Watson), Zoe Poulson, VP, Regional Ethics & Compliance Leader, North America and Head of Global Anti-Bribery Programat Visa and Kate Smith, Counsel, Alphabet Regulatory Response, Investigations & Strategy at Google.

Event Agenda:
11:30 am - 12:00 pm  - Registration and Lunch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm  -  CLE Presentation

*ACC NCR annual relationship sponsors may send two representatives, except Diamond, which may send three.

2.0 Hours of VA MCLE Ethics Credit approved.

The contract negotiating and management environment is rapidly evolving from the paper based, manual contract management paradigms of the past.  The new environment is increasingly characterized as more quickly paced, while at the same time the pressure to “do more with less” is increasing when it comes to support staff.  And, further, teams are increasingly distributed and multitasked.  All of which leads to increased contract management risk.  Technology can be a valuable force multiplier, but it comes with its own risks. In this month’s program, presented by Stephen C Thomas, we will take a look at:  

1. Current trends in available contract management tools

2. Mitigating risks in using technology in contract management

3. Controlling legal costs

After the program, get ready to unwind and enjoy an evening of cocktail craftsmanship guided by a professional mixologist. Learn the secrets behind creating the perfect cocktail (or mocktail) while networking with fellow legal professionals and enjoying delectable bites.  

 
Thursday, September 14, 2023
 
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Fun Begins: 4:30 PM
Craft Cocktail Happy Hour: 5:30 PM
  

Join us for our 17th Annual Paralegal/Legal Assistant Forum at the Marriott Philadelphia West in Conshohocken!  It will be a full day with four hours of educational sessions offering CLE credit, a networking breakfast, luncheon and our second annual Paralegal/Legal Assistant of the Year Award!  We've been busy asking your Department Heads for nominations....it could be you!

We will also have a professional photographer available to take complimentary headshots for all attendees!

We also have our generous sponsors attending to give you some useful information on their services.  Thank you to our event sponsors:

• Beacon Hill Legal Staffing
• Cobblestone Software
• CSC
• Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations
• Robert Half
• TransPerfect Legal Solutions

Registration Fee:

• $50 if you work for an ACC Member Company
• $60 Non-Member Companies

AGENDA:

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Registration, Networking, Breakfast, Sponsor Visitation

Join us for a hot breakfast buffet, networking with your peers and conference sponsors to kick off the 17^th Annual Paralegal Forum.

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
“The Perils of Paralegals Participating in Prohibited Practices”
Presented by James M. Liebler, V.P., Corp. & Legal Affairs, OPEX Corporation

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Break with Sponsors

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
“Contracts”
Presented by Teena Amador, Global Foundries U.S. Inc.

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Luncheon, Networking, Sponsor Introductions & Paralegal of the Year Award Presentation

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
“ChatGPT and Generative AI in the Law: 101”
Presented by William J. Simmons, Littler Mendelson, P.C.

2:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Break with Sponsors

2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
“No One Makes It Out Unscathed: The Effects of Personal Trauma, Stress and Anxiety on Our Lives”
Presented by Brian S. Quinn, Esq., Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of PA

October 5, 2023 Career Management/In-Transition Webinar
12:00-1:00 p.m. 
(1 hour of Substantive CLE approved for PA, NJ & DE)

https://accinhouse.zoom.us/j/95260511074

"Alternative Legal Careers: Transitioning from Lawyer to Judge or ADR Professional"
Presented by JAMS

There are several exciting career transitions available to practicing lawyers. Perhaps after years at a law firm you wanted to explore an in-house position or vice versa. Have you thought about alternative paths like that of a judgeship or as an ADR professional? 

Our legal system needs knowledgeable and objective judges, mediators, and arbitrators from diverse backgrounds to further increase the availability of justice. 

Have you wondered what it takes to become a mediator or arbitrator? Have you ever deliberated about what is involved in pursuing a judgeship?

This virtual program will help shed some light on steps you can take to prepare for these new roles as well as what to expect once you are there. Join JAMS and ACC to hear from retired judges and attorneys who will share their experiences with the key issues they encountered while making a career change.

Speakers:

• Hon. Jane Cutler Greenspan (Ret.), JAMS
• Gregory P. Miller, Esq., JAMS
• Moderated by Christopher M. Brubaker, Esq., Nationwide