MATERIALS
Symposium Agenda
Guest and Dorsey Panelist Biographies
CLE & CPD Information
SESSIONS
8:30 am - 9:30 am CT
Session A: Structured Financing: Jumping Into the Pool
Structured finance transactions remain mysterious to many in the business world. From moving pools of assets to a bankruptcy-remote entity (and insulating those assets from the bankruptcy risk of the operating company) to creating securities used in capital raising, structured finance is a vehicle for risk-management and liquidity offering great flexibility. The documentation, negotiation, and rendering of legal opinions all have their own nuances in the world of structured finance. Our panel will review practical practice tips and discuss the different asset classes that may be candidates for structured finance. Join us to unlock the mystery of structured finance, or to see what is next in the evolving landscape.
Session B: A Peek at In-House Counsel Licensing, Professional Discipline and Internal Investigation Issues
This session will examine potential consequences of license deficiencies in terms of professional discipline, unauthorized practice and privilege waiver based upon actual cases. Our panel will also review in-house counsel ethics exposure when dealing with company employees and internal investigations
9:45 am - 10:45 am CT
Session A: Insurance Law: Practical Guidance for Managing and Maximizing Insurance Coverage
Insurance is unique. An insurance policy is one of the most important, and often least read, contracts a business will sign. Having a good sense of common insurance opportunities and pitfalls can help you place the right insurance, maximize your coverage, and strengthen your position if claims arise. Our panel of experts will provide insights regarding the most common touchpoints with your insurance company, such as buying and renewing policies, complying with common terms and conditions, working through the claims process, and dealing with disputes. We will provide practical guidance on how to work with your insurers, and answer common questions such as: How do I identify the insurance I need? When (and how) do I make a claim? What should I say? Have I said too much? Have I said too little? What do I do when the insurer is not immediately helpful? When do I sue? What if the insurer sues?
Session B: Corporate Governance at the Speed of Light: Advising Boards During a Period of Heightened Change and Uncertainty
Assisting your Boards to provide sound oversight has never been more uncertain. Learn from a panel of seasoned corporate governance experts as they discuss advising their Boards with respect to a variety of current and emerging topics, including responding to changing government mandates, use of AI (both inside the company and the boardroom), potential changes to public reporting obligations, and mastering the new art of engaging with institutional investor-shareholders.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm CT
Session A: How In-House Counsel Can Help Their Organizations Make Sense of Federal and State Enforcement Trends
Business leaders rely on in-house lawyers to assist with risk management, including making sense of federal and state governments’ enforcement priorities. This year has seen a number of significant shifts in staffing at federal agencies like DOJ, CFPB, USDA, Treasury (IRS), and HHS, and shifts in enforcement priorities in areas like foreign corruption, money laundering, and restraints on trade. This all-star lineup including senior in-house counsel and a top federal law enforcement official will help make sense of the trends and their impact on corporate risk management.
Session B: Mental Health Issues and Neurodivergence in the Legal Workplace
Mental health and neurodiversity are receiving greater attention in society – and in legal workplaces, where some conditions exist at rates as high as three times national averages. But greater awareness alone does not overcome the perceived stigma and real misunderstandings that lead many lawyers to avoid disclosing or discussing their conditions or requesting effective accommodations. Our panel will outline proactive strategies to foster an inclusive environment for employees with mental health or cognitive conditions and discuss the issues that arise when lawyers request reasonable accommodations.
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm CT
Keynote Address
Blair Braverman, Dogsledder & Adventurer
Author of 'Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube' & 'Small Game'
Adventurer, dogsledder, and author Blair Braverman is a riveting storyteller and expert in perseverance. She and her team of dogs have traveled through thousands of miles of wilderness in Alaska, the Yukon, and Scandinavia, and completed the famed Iditarod race. Braverman is the author of Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube, which was called “stunning and sharp” by The New York Times Book Review, and indie bestsellers Dogs on the Trail and Small Game. She shares epic stories and practical takeaways about developing a practice of grit and courage, working as a team to thrive in high-pressure situations, and breaks down common misconceptions about what makes a powerful leader. Braverman is a contributing editor for Outside magazine, and her writing has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, and on the This American Life podcast. She and her dog team have been featured on The Today Show and in O: The Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, TIME, Teen Vogue, and on NPR.