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In the first of our ‘Chapter Connects’, aside from the opportunity to catch up with peers, we will be joined by two 2020 ACC TED Masterclass alumni to answer questions regarding the program. Applications for the 2021 TED Masterclass close on March 31.

To ensure that the session is truly interactive, numbers are limited to 15 members only, on a first-come-first-served basis. A wait-list will be operated in case of cancellations.

This is intended to be a casual session so please bring your lunch and only register if you are a member!

In recognition of Women in Law & Leadership during March, ACC Women In The House (WITH) and ACC Middle East & North Africa invite you to join us to hear from leading GCs in the region about their career journeys, motivations, and their recommendations for creating the environment to support more women in finding their seat at the table.

Panellists:

- Wafa Derouiche, VP & Chief Compliance Officer, TE connectivity (moderator)

- Sahia Ahmad, General Counsel, Dubai Tourism

- Joanna Addison, Head of Legal, Qatar Shell

- Ghada Qaisi Audi, Deputy Exec Director, CAIR-SFBA, formerly General Counsel, Seddiqi Holding

- Raya Alkhatib, General Counsel, American Express Saudi Arabi

- GCC Patent Office Closure – Impact / Industry Approach

- Data Privacy Updates: New Dynamics Across GCC – how does it impact the new digital era?

- Proposed Structure for the next ACC Pharma Legal Touch-Points: Feedback & Volunteers Welcome

The format is the usual interactive roundtable, aimed at hearing the different experiences among us while the session will be hosted via zoom, which will enable us to reconnect and get closer again.

The data protection landscape across the Middle East and North Africa region is evolving quickly. New regulatory updates and the enforcement of existing obligations are expected across a number of our jurisdictions in 2021. Navigating this regulatory complexity, including the important subject of cross-border data transfers which have been complicated by the advent of multiple GDPR-inspired data protection laws, is becoming increasing relevant and challenging for in-house counsel across the region. The ACC Middle East has planned a series of privacy and data protection webinars to assist IHC in preparing to support their internal clients with appropriate guidance. 

The DPO function is one of the key requirements in the tidal wave of new or updated data protection regulations we are seeing across the region. The DPO is responsible for monitoring their organisation’s compliance and should be thought of as the independent advocate for the lawful use of personal information.  In this webinar, our knowledgeable panellists will leverage their practical experience and share their thoughts on the DPO role. 
- When must a controller or processor appoint a DPO? 
- What qualities and competencies are required?  
- What tasks and workload levels are likely? 
- Can the DPO role (or back office support) be outsourced? 
- If a DPO is not required by law, what does an organisation do and what role would be best placed to take forward the privacy programme?  
And importantly for IHC, as the DPO role is very much about governance and compliance, is an IHC team member a good fit for the role?
 
Please join us to learn more and ask your questions. 

Panellists:  
•    Paul McCormack, Global Lead, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Counsel, Saudi Aramco
•    Shanthi Thangaraj, Legal Counsel, Dubai Tourism
•    Simon Leadbetter, Data Privacy, Neom
•    Nicholai Pfeiffer, Managing Partner, White Label Consultancy
•    Dale Waterman, Partner, White Label Consultancy (moderator)

During this roundtable, we are discussing how telcos are changing as a result of the pandemic - considering the criticality of Telco infrastructure in supporting work and entertainment, the changing role of in-house counsel etc. There will be a panel session followed by an opportunity for a broader discussion amongst the group. 

In recent years, U.S. government authorities have become increasingly active in filing enforcement actions directed at activity that occurred largely outside the States, including in the EMEA region. Some of these actions touch on specific U.S. foreign policy concerns, including trade with or involving Iranian entities. Other cases have seen the U.S. employing new or emerging investigative techniques. Still others provide evidence of the significant incentives that U.S. authorities provide to whistleblowers, particularly following the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act (for which there has been increasing activity in this COVID environment). 

In this webinar, Baker Botts experts in securities enforcement, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and sanctions and export control discuss these developments, the impact of upcoming U.S. presidential election on these enforcement priorities, and steps businesses can take to protect themselves in this rapidly evolving environment. 
 

Cash is king – especially in these challenging times.  It is now more important than ever for businesses to optimise their operations. In-house counsel play a key role in taking simple, smart steps to help their businesses boost efficiencies, improve and protect cash flow; and avoid profit leakage. 
 
During this webinar, Alexandra Aikman, Pinsent Masons and Liam Collens, regional legal director & compliance officer at Reckitt Benckiser will :
•    Share best practice and practical steps that in-house legal teams can take to assist business optimisation 
•    Identify some of the key contractual elements that cause profit leakage within a business
•    Provide contracting tips to guard and protect cash flow
•    Provide talking points for discussing business optimisation steps with senior management teams

The data protection regulatory landscape across the Middle East and North Africa region is fast evolving. Navigating this regulatory minefield is becoming increasing relevant and challenging for in-house counsel across the region. The ACC Middle East has planned a series of webinars to introduce members to the subject of privacy and data protection to assist them in preparing to support their internal clients with appropriate guidance. 

In this session, we will hold a detailed discussion on the state of data protection in the Middle East, with focus on a number of countries such as the UAE, other gulf countries and Egypt. This review will be compared with other systems in place, such as the European Union GDPR, the California Consumer Privacy Act and others. The panel will also discuss whether a uniform international standard is taking shape, amongst all of these developments. 

** THIS PROGRAM IS FOR ACC MEMBERS ONLY **
In two, one-hour sessions, Finance & Accounting Fundamentals for Corporate Counsel will ground you in financial reporting. After discovering the principles to create a business narrative from a balance sheet and income statement, you will use the concepts you’ve discovered to answer 5 key questions about any business. You will peel away the confusions around financial lexicon for richer and deeper engagement with finances and colleagues.

The seminar is based upon a visual and language oriented approach to the topic. The presenter is expert in adapting the delivery and content to the way lawyers in corporate settings approach their work. The seminar will focus on what you need to know: 
•    given what your role is as a legal expert who can (and should) be business-savvy; 
•    so that your advice and decisions positively impact the success of your business;
•    because of where you “sit” among top executives, board members, and outside counsel whom you hire.

This seminar will help legal minds get comfortable with how “financial people” think and operate, increasing your value as in-house counsel for your organizations. 

The facilitator of the session is Peter Frampton, a financial literacy advocate and executive chairman of Wealthvox (wealthvox.com). 

Due to the interactive nature of this session, spaces are LIMITED so PLEASE only register if you are certain that you will attend and you will commit to both sessions.