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Overview

The 43rd Annual Corporate Counsel Institute is coming to you virtually this year! We've developed this year's program to make the most of your experience with us online. Spanning three consecutive mornings, the program continues to offer in-depth, practical discussions on legal issues and considerations that matter most to corporate counsel. The Institute is THE conference for in-house counsel and outside counsel who represent companies of all sizes, and provides opportunities for dialogue and networking among speakers and attendees—making this an online event you don't want to miss!

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Wednesday Morning, Apr. 28, 2021
    Presiding Officer:
    T. Jason Smith, Elevate Services - Houston, TX
  • 8:20 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:30 am
    0.50 hr
    Employment Law Updates and Hot Topics
    Get the latest updates in labor and employment law, including developments under the current administration.

    Carolyn Ann Russell, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Houston, TX

  • 9:00 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 9:10 am
    0.50 hr
    Privacy Law Updates: Texas, USA, and Abroad
    Privacy law continues to evolve in the US and abroad at a fast pace with many significant updates in the past year, including Schrems II, CPRA, and the report from the Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council. Businesses will have to consider these updates when collecting and using consumer data in 2021. Gain insight on recent updates to several seminal privacy regulations and discuss where federal and state privacy law might be headed in 2021 and beyond.

    Craig C. Carpenter, Thompson & Knight LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 9:40 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 9:50 am
    1.00 hr
    Contract Tips, Tricks and Traps
    Gain insight into tips, tricks and traps for the unwary in drafting key contract provisions, including strategy for negotiating these provisions. Discuss key contract provisions from the perspective of both an in-house lawyer and a litigator to help provide a balanced perspective on what is critical to have and when you can give a little during your negotiations.

    Natalie L. Arbaugh, Winston & Strawn LLP - Dallas, TX
    Tim Biggio, Dell Technologies - Richardson, TX

  • 10:50 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 11:00 am
    0.75 hr
    What Do You Do When the Feds Show Up?
    Hear basic advice for in-house counsel and corporate executives faced with federal raids, searches, investigation and arrest of employees, subpoenas to produce evidence or testify, and appearances in court. 

    Moderators:
    Kip Mendrygal, Locke Lord LLP - Dallas, TX
    Dena DeNooyer Stroh, North Texas Tollway Authority - Plano, TX
    Panelists:
    Jessica B. Magee, Thompson & Knight LLP - Dallas, TX
    Grant Scheiner, Scheiner Law Group, P.C. - Houston, TX

  • 11:45 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 11:55 am
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Handling and Responding to an Investigation (When Your Employees Are Remote)
    As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have transitioned important business functions from in-person to fully remote. Discuss key practical issues for companies to consider when carrying out investigations in the remote working environment.

    Moderator:
    Jeff Barnes, Rice University, Office of the General Counsel - Houston, TX
    Panelists:
    Alex Bourelly, Baker Botts - Washington, DC
    Mark J. Oberti, Oberti Sullivan LLP - Houston, TX

  • 12:40 pm
    Adjourn

  • Be sure to join again this evening in Zoom for a special networking event and presentation for all attendees – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time.
    Bring your favorite beverage or snack, spend time catching up with colleagues, and participate in an engaging discussion (and maybe win a prize!) from our presentation speakers. We will send additional information and instruction on how to join via Zoom the week of the conference. Please note you will need to have the latest version on Zoom, you can find instructions on updating your Zoom client by using this link. 

  • Wednesday Evening, Apr. 28, 2021
  • 5:00 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.50 hr ethics
    Networking and Presentation:
    Lawyers as Leaders
    What does it take for a lawyer to be a successful leader and manager? Discuss critical aspects of leadership for lawyers, including how to lead, how to be viewed as a leader, and how to communicate as a leader to your team and to your clients, all while managing potential ethical pitfalls that may await.

    Jane Mallor McBride, Optimus Legal Management & Consulting - Plano, TX
    Sterling L. Miller, Hilgers Graben PLLC - Dallas, TX

  • 6:00 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, Apr. 29, 2021
    Presiding Officer:
    Marc J. Krasney, PS Lightwave, Inc. - Houston, TX
  • 8:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Crisis Communications: Preparing for the Inevitable
    Discuss crisis communication - both external and internal. A crisis is always waiting, and the legal department always needs to be involved in the response. Learn practical tips and tools for handling a crisis situation.

    Moderator:
    Richard W. Rew II, Luminex Corporation - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Bradley L. Adams, Southwest Transplant Alliance, Inc. - Dallas, TX
    Paul Nathanson, The Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell LLP - Washington, DC

  • 9:15 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 9:25 am
    1.00 hr ethics
    Mythbusters and Dynamic Duos: Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Edition
    Access to Justice is becoming even more important in a world where in-person meetings have been replaced by virtual interactions—both creating a new digital divide while also providing more opportunities for pro bono activities. Many in-house attorneys believe villainous barriers exist that thwart their otherwise heroic efforts to do pro bono work. Explore some of the most common myths and blast them head-on. Discuss engaging pro bono activities for in-house counsel, dynamic win-win approaches to partner with outside counsel or in-house legal departments at non-profit organizations, and gain a how-to guide to get started and emerge a hero.

    Moderator:
    T. Jason Smith, Elevate Services - Houston, TX
    Panelists:
    Stephen E. Stein, Thompson & Knight LLP - Dallas, TX
    Mary Brennan Stich, Rackspace Technology - Windcrest, TX
    Scott A. Young, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. - Plano, TX

  • 10:25 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 10:35 am
    0.75 hr
    Substantive Legal Issues Being Created by the Use of AI
    The dramatic rise in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in the workplace will present employers and in-house counsel with a variety of new legal issues and challenges. Job duties and corporate structures will continue to change significantly as these technological changes advance further into the work setting. Explore many of the legal issues that will likely arise with the increased use of AI and robotics, such as the protection of intellectual property, the use of automated job elimination, redeployment, and candidate selection tools, privacy concerns, joint employer challenges, and other similar topics.

    Gary D. Eisenstat, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Dallas, TX
    Adam Tullman, PACCAR Inc - Bellevue, WA

  • 11:20 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 11:30 am
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    To Pay, or Not to Pay: How to Respond to (or Prepare for) a Ransomware Attack
    Ransomware cyber-attacks have become an absolute scourge on American enterprise. Extortion demands have skyrocketed. Company data is now not only encrypted through these attacks, but also often stolen for additional attacker leverage. In this important session, attendees will learn about current ransomware threats and trends, as well as what companies can do to prepare for and respond to such attacks, including insights on paying (or not paying) a ransom.

    John E. Ansbach, Stroz Friedberg an Aon Company - Dallas, TX

  • 12:15 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 12:25 pm
    0.50 hr
    When the #&*! Hits the Fan: Using Executive Risk Insurance to Clean Up the Mess Before it Gets Worse 
    When a single tweet sends a stock tumbling downward or a comment in a meeting shrinks a customer list to zero, effective crisis management can often be the best path to start mitigating damage and defend against future litigation. When a noisy shareholder can prompt a Seeking Alpha Report or a Plaintiff’s firm uses a Books & Records request for free discovery, you need to start defending the case long before it’s filed. Explore how in-house counsel can utilize insurance to mitigate and manage challenges before the litigation arises. Address often overlooked coverages found in management liability programs such as Crisis Management, Activist Shareholder and Books & Records coverage in a D&O policy; Training and Policy & Procedure support in an Employment Practices Liability Policy; and Reputational Harm coverage in a Cyber Policy. 

    Kara Altenbaumer-Price, McGriff, Siebels & Williams, Inc. - Addison, TX

  • 12:55 pm
    Adjourn

  • Be sure to join again this evening in Zoom for a special networking event and presentation for all attendees – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time. 
    Bring your favorite beverage or snack, spend time catching up with colleagues, and participate in an engaging discussion from our presentation speakers. We will send additional information and instruction on how to join via Zoom the week of the conference. Please note you will need to have the latest version on Zoom, you can find instructions on updating your Zoom client by using this link. 

  • Thursday Evening, Apr. 29, 2021
  • 5:00 pm
    0.75 hr ethics
    Networking and Presentation:
    "Rumble in the Virtual Jungle": Negotiating Engagement Letters and Fee Agreements with Outside Counsel
    We’re all on the same side here, right?! Nope. Not until they are retained. Participate in an energetic discussion on the best practices, pitfalls, and possible ethical landmines in negotiating engagement letters to retain outside counsel. What are the law firm and client must-haves and how do you set yourself and your company up for success?

    Moderator:
    Clay B. Scheitzach, DriveTime - Tempe, AZ
    Panelist:
    Steven G. Schortgen, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 6:00 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Apr. 30, 2021
    Presiding Officer:
    Emma Cano, Jefferson Cano - San Antonio, TX
  • 8:30 am
    0.50 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Deposition Preparation When Your Peers or Your Boss are the Witness
    “Yes. No. I don’t know. I don’t recall.” Learn the top strategies for preparing your internal client, including other lawyers, for deposition, including issues relating to privilege, the latest requirements for corporate representatives, and handling depositions remotely.

    Annapoorni R. Sankaran, Holland & Knight LLP - Houston, TX

  • 9:00 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 9:10 am
    0.75 hr
    Refresh Your Dispute Resolution Roadmap
    How to get from here to there in alternative dispute resolution, including drafting ADR provisions, structuring arbitration, preparing for mediation, refining negotiation skills, and utilizing technology.

    Sylvia A. Mayer, S. Mayer Law PLLC - Houston, TX
    Noah Webster, Zix - Dallas, TX

  • 9:55 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 10:05 am
    0.75 hr
    Practical Tips for Protecting Trade Secrets in Texas
    Learn techniques to use before and during litigation to protect trade secrets critical to an organization’s success; and explore the contours of federal and state laws to use as tools to protect your trade secrets and digital assets.

    Jason Boulette, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX
    Michael D. Marin, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 10:50 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 11:00 am
    0.75 hr
    Fraud Is Now Legal in Texas (for Some People)
    Three Texas intermediate appellate courts have held that corporate actors—directors, officers, managers, shareholders, and probably common employees and agents—are immune from personal liability for the fraud and misrepresentation these actors commit as long as the deceit relates to or arises from a contractual obligation of the corporation. Two and maybe three Texas appellate courts have rejected this immunity, and federal courts have also split. Courts adopting immunity claim the authority of a statute, but this immunity cannot be justified by the statute's language or history, and adopting it creates (probably unnoticed) results that confirm the legislature never intended it.

    Val Ricks, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX

  • 11:45 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 11:55 am
    1.00 hr ethics
    In-House Counsel: Conflicts and Complexities
    On a daily basis, in-house counsel must navigate conflicts of interest and attorney client privilege issues that outside counsel do not often face. This interactive discussion addresses common scenarios and suggests paths to safe navigation.

    Sean Gorman, Bracewell LLP - Houston, TX
    Kristi H. McCarthy, Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company - Houston, TX

  • 12:55 pm
    Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Bradley L. Adams

Southwest Transplant Alliance, Inc.
Dallas, TX

Kara Altenbaumer-Price

McGriff, Siebels & Williams, Inc.
Addison, TX

John E. Ansbach

Stroz Friedberg an Aon Company
Dallas, TX

Natalie L. Arbaugh

Winston & Strawn LLP
Dallas, TX

Jeff Barnes

Rice University, Office of the General Counsel
Houston, TX

Tim Biggio

Dell Technologies
Richardson, TX

Jason Boulette

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Alex Bourelly

Baker Botts
Washington, DC

Craig C. Carpenter

Thompson & Knight LLP
Dallas, TX

Gary D. Eisenstat

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Sean Gorman

Bracewell LLP
Houston, TX

Jessica B. Magee

Thompson & Knight LLP
Dallas, TX

Michael D. Marin

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Sylvia A. Mayer

S. Mayer Law PLLC
Houston, TX

Jane Mallor McBride

Optimus Legal Management & Consulting
Plano, TX

Kristi H. McCarthy

Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company
Houston, TX

Kip Mendrygal

Locke Lord LLP
Dallas, TX

Sterling L. Miller

Hilgers Graben PLLC
Dallas, TX

Paul Nathanson

The Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell LLP
Washington, DC

Mark J. Oberti

Oberti Sullivan LLP
Houston, TX

Richard W. Rew II

Luminex Corporation
Austin, TX

Val Ricks

South Texas College of Law Houston
Houston, TX

Carolyn Ann Russell

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Houston, TX

Annapoorni R. Sankaran

Holland & Knight LLP
Houston, TX

Grant Scheiner

Scheiner Law Group, P.C.
Houston, TX

Clay B. Scheitzach

DriveTime
Tempe, AZ

Steven G. Schortgen

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Dallas, TX

T. Jason Smith

Elevate Services
Houston, TX

Stephen E. Stein

Thompson & Knight LLP
Dallas, TX

Mary Brennan Stich

Rackspace Technology
Windcrest, TX

Dena DeNooyer Stroh

North Texas Tollway Authority
Plano, TX

Adam Tullman

PACCAR Inc
Bellevue, WA

Noah Webster

Zix
Dallas, TX

Scott A. Young

Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
Plano, TX

Planning Committee

Emma Cano—Co-Chair

Jefferson Cano
San Antonio, TX

T. Jason Smith—Co-Chair

Elevate Services
Houston, TX

Joanna Jefferson—Director

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Jeff Barnes

Rice University, Office of the General Counsel
Houston, TX

Sylvia Ann Cardona

Jefferson Cano
San Antonio, TX

Alistair B. Dawson

Beck Redden LLP
Houston, TX

Gary D. Eisenstat

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Sean Gorman

Bracewell LLP
Houston, TX

L. Brad Hancock

Holland & Knight LLP
Houston, TX

Marc J. Krasney

PS Lightwave, Inc.
Houston, TX

Michael D. Marin

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Jane Mallor McBride

Optimus Legal Management & Consulting
Plano, TX

Richard W. Rew II

Luminex Corporation
Austin, TX

Alma Reyes

Attorney at Law
Houston, TX

Clay B. Scheitzach

DriveTime
Tempe, AZ

Stephen E. Stein

Thompson & Knight LLP
Dallas, TX

Dena DeNooyer Stroh

North Texas Tollway Authority
Plano, TX

Michele B. Thompson

Law Office of Michele B. Thompson
Austin, TX

Paul R. Tobias

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Austin, TX

Jeffrey J. Walker

Masergy Communications, Inc.
Plano, TX

Credit Info

MCLE Credit
UT Law CLE will report credit to the State Bar of Texas on your behalf. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit.
Self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. Print and keep the Certificate of Completion for your records. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit.
UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission (KSCLE) within 30 days after the conference. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #169) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Oklahoma Bar Association for MCLE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. This accreditation requires attendance verification. In compliance with the rules, UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

To claim Oklahoma MCLE credit, Oklahoma credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the webcast.
UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks of the webcast conclusion. Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact Laura Tolin, ltolin@law.utexas.edu, if you have additional questions.
Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State
If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

To claim Other States MCLE credit, Other States credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion .

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.
Other Credit
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. In compliance with the rules, UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

To claim Texas Accounting CPE credit, the Texas Accounting CPE credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. Self-report your CPE credit directly to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

Contact Laura Tolin, ltolin@law.utexas.edu, if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Live Webcast – Apr 28-30, 2021
Register now
Live Webcast
Last day for Individual early registration: Apr 28, 2021

Add $0 for registrations received after this time

Last day for Group (5 registrants minimum) early registration: Apr 28, 2021

Add $0 for registrations received after this time

Last day for Group (10 registrants minimum) early registration: Apr 28, 2021

Add $0 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Apr 23, 2021

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Apr 26, 2021

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