Get ready to level up your legal game at the 2025 In-House Counsel Seminar on Friday, November 21!
Registration, breakfast, and networking kick off from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Seminar sessions start at 8:30 a.m. and run until 2 p.m., with both breakfast and lunch served to keep you fueled for success. Complementary valet available at 7:45 a.m.
Networking Breakfast and Opening Remarks: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Rapid Fire Remix: Four Top Legal Hits
Speakers: Whitney Campbell Christensen, Government Relations Attorney, Peter Ledford, North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Utilities Law, Allen Trask, General Practitioner, and Paul Fanning, North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law
8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
In this high-energy, rapid-fire session, four Ward and Smith attorneys will deliver quick-hitting beats on the hottest legal issues. From government relations and utilities agencies to natural disaster prep and economic outlook from a creditors' perspective, we're spinning the essential tracks you need to stay in heavy rotation. Don't miss this power-packed playlist that will keep you ready for whatever's next on the legal charts!
Finding Your AI Rhythm: Deployable Strategies in a Changing Tempo
*This session has been approved for 1 hour of technology credit.
Speaker: Angela Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP, North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Trademark Law
9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
This practical session equips in-house counsel with actionable tools to navigate AI adoption while managing legal, regulatory, and operational risks. You'll gain immediately deployable frameworks for governance, vendor assessment, contract negotiation, and risk mitigation. Learn to strengthen AI governance committees, implement tiered review processes, and leverage AI to boost legal department efficiency while staying synchronized with evolving regulations. Get what you need to implement today to keep your organization innovating safely and strategically.
Break: 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The M&A Symphony: Orchestrating Successful Deals
Speaker: Richard Crow, Business and Tax Attorney
10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
In this expertly composed session, Richard Crow of Ward and Smith brings his distinctive blend of business acumen and in-house legal experience to the M&A arena. Having played both sides of the deal table, Richard will share the essential elements of due diligence, process management, and deal structure that orchestrate successful outcomes in the mergers and acquisitions world.
The Critical First Hour: Why Crisis Communications Can't Wait
Speakers: Harris Vaughan, Albert Eckel, and Pres Davenport, Eckel & Vaughan - Strategic Communications Agency
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
In-house counsel are often the first call in a crisis. But research shows false information spreads 70% faster than truth—and most organizations have no plan for controlling those critical first 60 minutes. Harris Vaughan of E&V Strategic Communications will reveal the research behind the "First Hour," share a compelling case study of what happens when you lose control, and provide a proven First Hour Protocol framework. Learn why 49% of companies are unprepared, what must happen in the first hour, and how to assess your organization's readiness. E&V partners Albert Eckel and Pres Davenport will help field questions and discuss practical implementation strategies.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
The Greatest Hits of Employment Law
Speakers: X. Lightfoot, NC State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law, and Justin Hill, Labor and Employment Attorney
12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tune in as Ward and Smith attorneys drop the hottest tracks in labor and employment law. From opening riff to final chord, this high-energy session hits all the right notes to keep you harmonized with the latest changes reshaping our practice.
Out of Tune: Trade Secret Theft and Employment Law Case Study
Speakers: Ken Gray, NC State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law, Gavin Parsons, Litigator, and Emily Massey, NC State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
When a competitor poaches your lead engineer along with proprietary auto-tuning technology, trade secret theft and employment disputes collide. This interactive case study puts attendees in the hot seat as they navigate a real-world scenario involving stolen components, non-competes, and looming corporate espionage. Work through the investigation with your tablemates by assuming different roles, including in-house counsel and executives. Experience firsthand the legal and strategic challenges of protecting your company's intellectual property while managing the fallout from employee departures.