Agenda

2026 In-House Counsel Seminar

“Pressure Proof”

1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Registration and Networking

Holding Steady: Rapid Fire Update for In-House Counsel  

1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Speakers: Whitney Campbell Christensen, Government Relations Attorney, Peter Ledford, North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Utilities Law,  Michael Weaver, Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy Attorney, and X. Lightfoot, North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law

Race the clock with four Ward and Smith attorneys as they sprint through the issues putting the most pressure on in-house counsel right now: government relations, energy and utilities, creditors’ rights, and DEI. Fast, practical, and built for people working under pressure.

From Source to Sale: A Q&A on Tariffs, Customs, and Product Compliance

2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Speakers: Kelly Reid, International Trade Attorney and Trip Coyne, Business Attorney

Tariff policy, customs enforcement, and federal rules governing product safety, certification, labeling, and advertising are changing quickly. In this practical Q&A, Trip Coyne will ask Kelly Reid which recent developments matter most to companies bringing products to the U.S. market and what in-house counsel should review with their business teams and supply-chain partners. Kelly advises manufacturers and importers on international trade and product regulation and represents clients before federal agencies and in complex litigation, including in the U.S. Court of International Trade. Trip advises domestic and multinational businesses and brings firsthand experience as the former CEO of an international consumer-products company.

2:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Break

Lawyers in the Boardroom: Board Governance Management Panel

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Speakers: Emily Massey, North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law, Richard Crow, Business and Tax Attorney, Brad Evans, Litigation Attorney

In-house counsel sit in the boardroom in a position outside counsel rarely occupies, and the ethical lines aren’t always obvious in the moment. Emily, Richard, and Brad lead an hour-long, panel-driven ethics session built around real boardroom scenarios, attorney-client privilege, conflicts of interest, fiduciary duty, and the unique position in-house counsel hold when conducting or supervising internal investigations. Approved for ethics credit.

The Boiling Point: Interactive Case Study – AI Goes Wrong In-House  

4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Speakers: Avery Locklear, Labor and Employment Attorney, Angela Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP, FIP AI Governance Professional and Privacy and Data Security Attorney, Amy Wooten, Insurance Counsel and Recovery Attorney

Somebody fed a contract into an AI tool, got a flawed answer back, and acted on it anyway. Grab a seat with your tablemates for this fan-favorite closer, you’re in the driver’s seat as Avery, Angela, and Amy walk the room through exactly that scenario, from the flawed output through downstream liability, insurance coverage, and employment ramifications, working through every decision point together.

4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. | Happy Hour