1. What is the Corporate Counsel Conference?
The Commercial Law Section (“CLS”) hosts the Corporate Counsel Conference annually. The Conference is in its 21st year. The purpose of the Conference is to afford in-house counsel of major corporations an opportunity to meet our outside counsel members and discuss their needs for outside counsel services, and the capabilities of our members to meet those needs. Over the life of the Conference, it is estimated that well over 100 corporations and their representatives have interacted with over 1,000 NBA-CLS members.
2. What is the format of the Conference?
There are several components to the Corporate Counsel Conference. The program includes seminars, a luncheon, and networking breakfasts and receptions each night, among other activities.
Unlike other conferences, the Corporate Counsel Conference offers a unique interviewing session. Before the Conference, in-house counsel pre-select outside counsel to interview for possible business opportunities. Interviews are conducted in fifteen (15) minute intervals on designated conference dates. While there is no guarantee that outside counsel will be granted an interview or retained for representation, the interviews offer another avenue for outside counsel to meet and network with in-house attorneys.
To partcipate in the interview process, outside counsel must submit a typed Resume/Questionnaire along with the completed registration form and payment. In advance of the Conference, Resumes/Questionnairs will be bound into a Corporate Resume Book and distributed to in-house counsel and/or corporate representatives for selection of outside counsel interview candidates.
Submission of a Resume/Questionnaire does not guarantee an interview. Due to the specific needs of the participating corporations, some outside counsel attendees may not be interviewed during the formal interview part of the Conference. The Conference, however, provides numerous other opportunities for outside counsel to meet the in-house counsel attendees. Many previous participating corporate representatives have retained outside counsel as a result of the informal networking offered by the Conference.
Finally, the Conference has a significant recreational/social component that allows for networking opportunities in a relaxed setting. At the 2006 and 2007 Conference, golf and spa outings were arranged as part of the programming for the Conference. For the 2008 Conference, we are including a community rebuilding project in addition to the golf and spa outings.
3. Who should attend the Conference?
If you are an in-house attorney seeking to identify a talented and diverse cross-section of outside counsel, the Corporate Counsel Conference offers the opportunity to meet lawyers from around the country, whose practices include a broad spectrum of substantive areas.
If you are an attorney in private practice, you should attend the Conference to meet and network with representatives of national and multi-national corporations who are actively seeking retention of attorneys for outside counsel. The companies that attend the Corporate Counsel Conference recognize that diversity is an essential component of their corporate business model.
4. How do I register for the Conference?
Registration for the 2008 Corporate Counsel Conference will open in October 2007. On-line registration will be available. Visit our Annual Conference page for more information.
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5. What if I don't have any scheduled interviews?
If you do not have a scheduled interview, do not worry. The Conference is structured so that you will have many opportunities to meet corporate representatives and in-house counsel. In fact, many matches occur outside of the scheduled interview sessions. Please come prepared to network during the entire Conference.
6. What if I am not a NBA or CLS member?
Registration for and participation in the Corporate Counsel Conference requires membership in the National Bar Association and membership in the Commercial Law Section for non-corporate representatives/in-house counsel. For information on NBA membership and CLS membership, you may visit the NBA web site at www.nationalbar.org and visit our Membership page. NBA dues may be paid along with your Conference registration payment. Section dues are $25.00 and may be paid with your Conference registration payment.
7. Which companies have participated in previous Conferences?
Previous participating companies include:
Abbott Laboratories
Advantica Restaurant
ArvinMeritor, Inc.
Denny’s
Aetna US Healthcare
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
Alamo Rent-A-CarJohnson & Johnson
Kaiser Permanente
LSG Sky Chefs
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.
Lucent Technologies
8. How does my company or law firm become a Sponsor?
For sponsorship information contact Karol Corbin Walker, Esq., Immediate Past Chair, at 973.491.3522. Both Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities exist on a limited basis. Sponsorship information is available in the 2008 Registration Brochure. Visit our Annual Conference page to obtain a copy of the brochure.
9. How do I get involved in the Commercial Law Section?
There are numerous opportunities to become involved in the Section such as making panel presentations, assisting with the development of programming, planning activities for the Corporate Counsel Conference, and working on the Section newsletter. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Kimberly Phillips, Esq., Section Chair, at 713.241.3200 or contact any member of the Executive Committee for more information.
10. How will I receive Section news and upcoming events?
Periodcially, the Section will send e-mail blasts to its members. These e-mail blasts are reserved for significant announcements and are sent sparingly. The Section website will contain news, upcoming events and career opportunities that have been forwarded to the Section Chair. The Section newsletter, "The Commercial Law Connection," is published twice per year and also provides the latest news and information concerning Section activities.
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