-
The Role of the Legal Department in Today’s Crisis of Trust
From fake news to sexual harassment to pay discrimination, how should GCs respond? And how are companies negotiating conduct exclusions in D&O and E&O policies
-
People, Processes and Production: Unlocking the Value of Your Legal Team
What initiatives are chief legal officers taking to increase the value of the legal department in the eyes of the CEO and board? How are GCs handling the challenge of doing more with less as budgets are tightened? What new technologies are legal departments implementing to streamline processes? -
Balancing Needs of the CEO, Board and Corporation
General counsel have to answer to multiple “bosses”. Share best practices and advice with your peers on how to balance interests and manage the different perspectives and demands.
The role of the general counsel continues to be elevated as companies feel more pressure from public, political and investor scrutiny. As you are charged with more accountability, it is critical to remain well-informed and ahead of the curve.
Organized by Corporate Board Member magazine (formerly NYSE Governance Services), the General Counsel Forum is developed specifically for the most senior in-house counsel of publicly traded companies and will address the legal, governance and risk issues of paramount importance in today’s global economy. The Forum will arm you with the knowledge needed to answer to your CEO, board of directors, regulators and investors.
Now in its 9th year, the program will feature veteran general counsel along with respected legal advisers from a wide range of industries, to provide candid insights into the evolving landscape and shifting challenges facing today’s legal departments.
Agenda
Tuesday, October 23
Download the event brochure here.
|
8:00-8:30 AM
|
Breakfast and Registration |
|
8:30-8:45 AM
|
Event Welcome |
|
8:45-9:30 AM
|
Keynote: Improving Your Odds in the 2019 Cyber Risk Battle
Jamil Jaffer| Founder, National Security Institute; Strategic Advisory Committee, Global Cyber Alliance; Vice President for Strategy & Partnerships, IronNet Cybersecurity
Jamil Jaffer is a leading authority on national security, intelligence and law enforcement issues, having formerly served as chief counsel and senior advisor for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and senior counsel to the House Intelligence Committee, where he worked on key national security and foreign policy issues. He was the lead architect of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act that was later signed into law in 2015.
Jamil will share advice on how GCs can work with other key internal players to build a strong cyber defense as a springboard for a good offense. He’ll share lessons corporate America can learn from counterterrorism and shed light on the technical, legal and compliance considerations that should top every GC’s list when it comes to cybersecurity, as well as how the private sector can work with the government on cyber initiatives.
|
|
9:30-10:20 AM |
The Convergence of Institutional Investors and Shareholder Activists… And the Impact on Corporate Governance
Allison Bennington | General Counsel, ValueAct
Rakhi Kumar | Head of ESG Investments & Asset Stewardship, State Street Global Advisors
Gain an insider’s view of how investors and activists are evaluating and engaging with boards to impact positive change and the growing influence of index funds supporting activists’ efforts—from board diversity to environment and sustainability. Find out the top governance issues you and your board should be prepared to address in advance of the 2019 proxy season.
|
|
10:20-10:40 AM
|
Networking Break
|
|
10:40-11:30 AM
|
Peer Collaboration
Attendees will be divided into small groups to discuss important issues for today’s corporate legal teams, including:
|
|
11:30 AM-12:20 PM
|
The GC as the Cornerstone of Board Governance
Verona Dorch | EVP, Chief Legal Officer, Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary, Peabody Energy
Carey Roberts | EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, Assurant Inc.
Moderator: Phil Neiswender | President and Chief Legal Officer, Center for Board Excellence
With a direct advisory role to the board of directors, today’s corporate counsels are at the center of a complex web of corporate governance regulations, ethical considerations and investor expectations. This panel will look at the GC’s integral role working with the board, from the onboarding of new directors and board evaluations to directors’ interaction with investors.
|
|
12:20-1:20 PM
|
Lunch,
sponsored by
.jpg)
|
|
1:20-2:10 PM
|
Out of the Crosshairs: Navigating M&A Due Diligence and Securities Litigation Considerations
John Noble | Retired Vice ChancellorDelaware Court of Chancery (2000-2016)
Almost 90% of shareholder litigation results from public company M&A transactions. How do you stay out of the crosshairs of opportunistic plaintiffs and successfully execute a transaction that is a win-win for all parties? Gain insights and lessons from recent Delaware cases to improve your due diligence efforts and protect management and the board from shareholder litigation, whether you are the acquirer or the acquiree.
|
|
2:10-2:30 PM
|
Networking Break
|
|
2:30-3:20 PM
|
The GC’s Role in Crisis Management
Robert Bostrom | SVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Abercrombie & Fitch
Steve Lipin | Chief Executive Officer, Gladstone Place Partners
From product recalls or harassment charges to data breaches and customer backlash, crisis events find their way into the headlines on an almost daily basis. A crisis situation is rarely 100% predictable and is not a single event, but rather a chain of events throughout which the GC plays a pivotal role. This panel will look at the responsibility of the in-house legal department in preparing for and responding to a major corporate crisis. Address the most common issues that arise in an actual crisis by learning how to develop a solid plan that includes tabletop testing exercises, decision-making authority, internal and external communications strategies, and the reliance on external resources.
|
|
3:20-4:10 PM
|
AI and Blockchain: Legal & Governance Considerations For Every Industry
John Zecca | SVP, General Counsel - North America and Chief Regulatory Officer, Nasdaq
Many businesses have yet to realize the full potential of AI or blockchain, but momentum is gathering as their applications become more widely understood. With more efficient processes and new service offerings, however, comes new implications for corporate governance, privacy and regulatory questions, and market considerations. Nasdaq is at the forefront of these conversations in the fintech revolution. Gain new perspectives on the key legal questions companies in all industries need to be asking about the pervasive role these technologies are set to play in modern business and society.
|
|
4:10-4:15 PM
|
Closing Comments
|
|
4:15-5:00 PM
|
Networking Reception, sponsored by .jpg)
|
Note: Agenda subject to change.
Venue
The General Counsel Forum will be held at the Yale Club of New York City | 50 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017
A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Yale Club for the night of October 22, 2018. The discounted rate is $375 for a standard queen and $395 for a superior king.
Reservations can be made by contacting the Club directly at (212) 716-2100 and referencing “Corporate Board Member.”
Hear from Past Attendees
“Of all the GC seminars I am invited to, I choose this one for the quality of the information, relevance of the topics, central location, friendships, and best practice sharing with other GCs.” Sharon Ryan, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, International Paper Company “An informative, well designed and comprehensive program which touched on real topics facing GCs today. Great panelists and facilitators.” John Camperlengo, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & CCO, Gentiva Health Services “The event was well run, and the topics were top of mind.” McDara Folan, Deputy General Counsel & Secretary, Reynolds American Inc. “Thoughtfully and concisely organized presentations in a more interactive format that provided meaningful opportunities to actively engage with colleagues regarding the most relevant challenges facing GCs today.” Brian Walters, General Counsel, Matthews International Corp. “A great opportunity to hear from leading experts on regulatory legal issues involving corporate boards, with the added benefit of networking with GCs from industry leaders.” Mark Smolik, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, DHL Inc. |
Sponsors
CLE Credits
Contact Us
Have a question about the event?
Please feel free to contact Simone Bunsen at events@chiefexecutive.net or at 615-592-1591.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in learning how you can be a part of the General Counsel Forum?
Please feel free to contact Jamie Tassa at jtassa@chiefexecutive.net or at 615-592-1506.
To apply for financial hardship, lean more here
| Corporate Board Member Chief Executive Group, LLC |
9 West Broad Street, Suite 430 Stamford, CT 06902 |
Tel: 203.930.2700 events@chiefexecutive.net |
© 2018 | BoardMember.com | Corporate Board Member magazine