Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Commercial Law Section (“CLS”) hosts the Corporate Counsel Conference annually. The Conference is in its 25th 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.
There are several components to the Corporate Counsel Conference. The program includes a Law Firm Interviewing and Networking Expo (“Expo”), combined with traditional interviewing sessions, CLEs, seminars, a luncheon, networking breakfasts and receptions each night, among other activities.
The Expo was added in 2011 and is combined with the formal interviews. The Expo will allow each law firm an opportunity to display their legal services to In-House Counsel/Corporate Representative attendees during the Expo. The Expo provides a unique networking platform and an additional opportunity for In-House Counsel/Corporate Representatives to meet with Outside Counsel.
Although the Expo is complimentary for Outside Counsel who are registered for the Conference, each law firm must separately register for the Expo via the on-line registration process to be guaranteed a table for the Expo and for interviewing. If a law firm is selected for a formal interview, the formal interview will be conducted at specific times during the Expo at the law firm table. Law firms which are selected for an interview will receive an Interview Schedule at the Conference Registration desk upon check-in.
To participate in the interview process, Outside Counsel must submit a typed Attorney Questionnaire along with the completed registration form and payment. In advance of the Conference, Attorney Questionnaires will be distributed electronically to In-House Counsel and/or Corporate Representatives for selection of Outside Counsel interview candidates.
Submission of an Attorney 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 component 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.
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.
Registration for the 2012 Corporate Counsel Conference will be available soon. To find out when, please continue to check our website and visit our 25th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference page for updated information.
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.
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 website at www.nationalbar.org or visit our Membership page. NBA dues may also be paid on the National Bar Association website. Commercial Law Section dues are $25.00.
Previous participating companies include:
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- Abbott Laboratories - Advantica Restaurant - ArvinMeritor, Inc. - Denny’s - Aetna US Healthcare - Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. - Alamo Rent-A-Car |
- Johnson & Johnson - Kaiser Permanente - LSG Sky Chefs - Liberty Mutual Insurance - Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. - Lucent Technologies |
When it becomes available, please download the Registration Brochure for 2012 Conference Sponsorship opportunities. If you have specific questions, you may contact Dawn R. Tezino, Esq., Chair of the 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 Dawn R. Tezino, Esq., Chair of the Section, at 713.655.1200 or contact any member of the Executive Committee for additional information.
Periodically, the Section sends 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.
