The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is the world's largest organization serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations, nonprofits and other private-sector organizations around the globe.
As financial institutions increasingly rely on fintech partnerships and artificial intelligence, in-house legal teams are confronted with complex new risks surrounding trade secret protection and misappropriation. This session will explore the intersection of trade secret law and financial technology, with a focus on the practical implications for banks, fintech vendors, and their legal departments. Panelists will discuss how to identify and protect proprietary assets—such as risk models, algorithms, and API architecture—while navigating the unique risks of software licensing deals, regulatory agency disclosures (FOIA), and the use of public AI tools. Attendees will leave with best practices and key takeaways for in-house counsel to actively maintain secrecy and avoid trade secret claims during the sales and development process.
Co-Sponsored by the IT, Privacy, & eCommerce Network
Cyber incidents move fast, and the stakes are high for financial institutions. This program will walk through the key phases of effective cyber incident response, focusing on the legal, regulatory, and cross-functional challenges unique to the financial sector. Drawing on insights from theBakerMcKenzie 2026 Global Data and Cyber Handbook, the session will highlight how evolving global data privacy and cybersecurity requirements impact incident preparedness and response.
The program will also explore why cybersecurity and data privacy remain top concerns for in-house lawyers, particularly in the context of disputes and investigations. Participants will gain practical guidance on incident readiness, stakeholder coordination, and managing legal and regulatory risk during and after a cyber incident, including considerations around data protection and AI governance.
ACC-Northeast will offer a virtual pre-event informational session on January 27th at 4:00 p.m. If you would like to attend the informational session the day before Walk to the Hill.
The need for pro bono legal assistance is tremendous, and continues to grow. How can in-house counsel and their legal department contribute to reducing this justice gap?
Join ACC-Northeast Chapter & Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) project of the nonprofit Pro Bono Institute, for an upcoming webinar that will explore how you and your legal departments can take action to help narrow this gap.
On Tuesday, January 27th from 12-12:45, In-House Counsel and CPBO staff will share their experiences and ideas for getting involved with various pro bono activities. This virtual discussion will help give corporate legal departments the tools to support and encourage employees to do pro bono work, along with answering common questions, give you ideas on how to get started, and offer best practices. Beyond that, you will gain support from each other, share experiences and learn of resources that could help these pro bono efforts.
From an advertising perspective, leveraging creator content can be a powerful way to build brand awareness. This session will provide in-house attorneys with practical guidance on understanding and managing creator content assets and risks, including issues related to ownership and licensing of creative content, use of trademarks and copyrights, and rights of publicity. Attendees will also discuss tips related to drafting and negotiating influencer and content agreements, complying with endorsement and disclosure rules, and addressing claim-substantiation and other advertising law requirements while supporting innovative marketing strategies.
