Thursday

Oct. 16

9:00 am - 10:00 am ET

Opening Mainstage Session

From Capitol Hill to the C-Suite: Vandana Venkatesh on Leading Legal at Verizon

Join Vandana Venkatesh, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Verizon, for an intimate conversation on her remarkable journey from Congressional aide to the top legal seat at one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies. Vandana will share pivotal choices, mentors and moments that shaped her rise through Verizon’s ranks over two decades.

In this session, Vandana will reflect on the evolving role of the General Counsel in a global enterprise, the legal and ethical challenges that keep her up at night, and how she balances risk, innovation, and responsibility in a world defined by constant change. She’ll also offer insights into how GCI attendees can lead with confidence, influence with integrity, and thrive in roles where legal strategy meets business impact.

No CLE credit for this session.

Sponsor:

Agencies in Flux: What GCs Need to Know About the New Regulatory Playbook

Federal regulation is changing in ways that matter for every general counsel—even those who rarely wade into the Federal Register. Regulatory approaches often shift with new administrations, creating both new compliance challenges and strategic opportunities. Emerging practices like early adopter provisions, AI-assisted drafting, shortened (or skipped) comment periods, and automatic sunset provisions are reshaping how regulations are written, revised, and enforced. These shifts don’t just affect trade associations or government affairs teams; they create real, day-to-day implications for project development, contracts, compliance programs, and corporate strategy. For in-house counsel, awareness can mean the difference between being caught flat-footed and seizing an early advantage—whether in shaping business planning, advising the board, or anticipating enforcement risk. This session will cut through the noise and offer practical insights on how GCs can translate evolving regulatory procedures into clear-eyed business decisions.

Approved for 1 CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board and State Bar of Texas. Pending in NY and WA.

Sponsor:

______________________________________________________________________

The First 72 Hours: Building Your Crisis Management Toolbox Before You Need It

When crisis strikes, the first 72 hours can define the trajectory of legal exposure, reputational impact, and organizational resilience. This panel brings together seasoned general counsel to explore the essential tools every legal department should have ready to deploy before a crisis hits. From crafting and testing crisis response plans to establishing clear chains of command, this session will walk through the foundational elements of a proactive crisis management strategy.

Panelists will discuss a range of topics including: implementing crisis response plans and conducting pre-crisis drills and simulations; defining escalation protocols and internal roles; building and training internal crisis management teams; engaging communications consultants and community stakeholders; strategically managing regulatory engagement and disclosures; navigating notifications to suppliers and customers; knowing when to involve outside counsel and notify the board; and maintaining attorney-client privilege and work product protections under pressure. Attendees will leave with a practical framework of strategies to consider to support swift and strategic responses to organizational crisis.

Approved for 1 CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board and State Bar of Texas. Pending in NY and WA.

______________________________________________________________________

That Email Said WHAT?: Attorney-Client Privilege and the In-House Attorney

Though we get used to seeing the words “Attorney-Client Privilege” written across emails, memos, and documents, simply writing that does not render communications privileged (as litigation over this topic has borne out through the years). If companies have gone through any type of mass/complex litigation, they know that during document production, privilege review is never really cut and dry. And communications with in-house attorneys can add even more complexity to this process, as in-house attorneys often walk an interesting tight rope as both business advisors and legal counsel. 

This workshop will explore some common “gray-area” situations where it may not be clear whether communications can be withheld for privilege reasons, along with some tips and tools for how best to remove the ambiguity and ensure that privileged documents stay privileged. Additionally, we will discuss common policies and procedures for in-house counsel to deploy to their company’s employees regarding potentially privileged communications across multiple platforms, especially in our new world of remote work.

We’ll get the in-house counsel perspective on how they navigate their dual roles as legal counsel and business advisors, and how they’ve handled thorny privilege situations in the past. We’ll also get their “best practices” for avoiding litigation over these topics, such as how they handle litigation holds, and what they counsel employees about how to communicate and what to say (or not say) in writing. 

Approved for 1 CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board and State Bar of Texas. Pending in NY and WA.

Thursday

Oct. 16

4:15 pm - 5:15 pm ET

Mainstage Session



When to Settle vs. Litigate: Corporate Strategy

One of the most critical decisions facing general counsel is determining when to pursue litigation versus seeking settlement. This strategic choice can significantly impact not only immediate legal costs and outcomes, but also long-term business relationships, regulatory exposure, and corporate reputation.

Join a distinguished panel of seasoned general counsel from diverse industries alongside experienced outside counsel as they share real-world insights into this complex decision-making process. Panelists will explore the key factors that should drive settlement versus litigation strategies, including risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, precedent considerations, and stakeholder impact.

Key topics will include: Developing frameworks for evaluating settlement versus litigation decisions;  balancing legal merit against business objectives and resource constraints; managing board and executive expectations throughout the decision-making process; industry-specific considerations that influence strategy choices; timing considerations: when early settlement makes sense versus when to fight; coordinating with outside counsel to optimize outcomes and control costs; and learning from cases where the chosen strategy succeeded—or didn't.

Approved for 1 CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board and State Bar of Texas. Pending in NY and WA.

Friday

Oct. 17

11:30 am - 12:30 pm ET

Concurrent Workshops

General Counsels as Lead Navigators: Guiding the C-Suite and Board Through Choppy Waters

The General Counsel plays a pivotal role, guiding the company, the board, and the C-Suite through high-stakes choices involving both peril and promise. This panel will look at the challenge of building an effective, global legal function during this time of transformative change. Given the GC's responsibility in analyzing corporate risk while advancing business objectives, this panel will also discuss how to successfully manage and stand your ground in such difficult and high-risk moments. Other challenges such as M&A integration, data breaches, shareholder activism and interacting with public and private company boards will also be examined through the prism of the panelists’ own personal experiences, offering lessons and recommendations along the way.

Approved for 1 CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board and State Bar of Texas. Pending in NY and WA.

______________________________________________________________________

Navigating the Digital Frontier: The Intersection of Law, Cybersecurity, and Privacy

In 2025 alone, 41 states introduced bills changing privacy or security obligations, and all 50 states considered legislation related to AI. This presentation will explore the current state of the law, as well as litigation trends and regulatory activity in privacy and data security. We will also suggest practical strategies for complying with the complex web of requirements and reducing litigation and regulatory risk for your company.

Approved for 1 CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board and State Bar of Texas. Pending in NY and WA.

______________________________________________________________________

Prompt Like a Boss: Unlocking AI for Legal Teams

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already reshaping the way in-house teams work. The question isn’t if you’ll use it, but how. Cecilia Ziniti, Founder & CEO of GC AI and a seasoned general counsel turned tech executive, will show you how to prompt with precision and apply AI where it creates immediate value.

From contracts to compliance, research to reporting, you’ll see what great looks like and how to get there faster. Expect concrete examples, interactive discussion, and a playbook you can bring back to your team to drive adoption with confidence.

Approved for 1 CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board and State Bar of Texas. Pending in NY and WA.

Friday

Oct. 17

12:30 pm - 2:15 pm ET

Lunch and Mainstage Session

Thinking Like a Leader 

A fireside chat on how GCs identify, prioritize, and respond to critical and day-to-day issues.

No CLE credit for this session.

Sponsor: