| 8:30am |
Continental breakfast |
| 9am |
Welcome |
| 9:15am |
Driving Change: Leadership Strategies for Sustainable Business Practices
Sponsored by Bennett Jones LLP
Details to be confirmed soon!
Speakers:
- Sabrina Bandali, Partner, International Trade, Bennet Jones LLP
- Sharon Singh, Partner, Co-Head of Aboriginal Law Practice, Bennett Jones LLP
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| 10am |
Weighing Risk and Opportunity: The Role of In-House Counsel in Enabling AI Adoption in Canadian Organizations
Sponsored by LexisNexis Canada
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies are already having a transformative impact on the practice of law in Canada, even as Canadian entities face an unprecedented level of cyber-risk. At the same time, legislators and regulators are creating stricter laws and new tools which will govern how organizations must proceed.
Join this panel of tech-savvy lawyers and experts who will share first-hand experience and strategies for risk-proofing the technological evolution of Canadian organizations in the age of AI. This unmissable session will include practical, actionable insights for enabling AI/ML adoption in Canadian legal departments and organizations, including:
- Regulatory compliance: Key provisions under the three parts of the Digital Charter Implementation Act
- Risk-neutral (or at least less risky) AI adoption: Practical use cases for AI/ML technologies to support profitability and business resiliency in Canadian legal departments and the organizations we support – without courting claims or compliance risk
- The role of legal in technology risk governance: Essential legal instruments, policies, communications, and agreements with vendors, insurers, clients, and stakeholders to risk-proof organizational AI/ML adoption
- Department operations: What to include in your organization’s playbook of rapidly-deployable AI risk mitigation tools for maximum business agility
Speakers:
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| 10:45am |
Morning Break
|
| 11:05am |
Enhancing Financial Integrity: A Forensic Accountant’s Insights into Commercial Agreements and Terms
Sponsored by MNP
Unlock the power of precise contract language to safeguard your organization’s financial interests and mitigate the risk of disputes. This session is designed to equip in-house counsel with the expertise to effectively scrutinize and refine financial terms within agreements, and provide strategic value when advising the relevant stakeholders and business units.
We’ll dissect the financial clauses pivotal to the fiscal success of agreements, illuminated by real-world scenarios where ambiguous or poorly constructed accounting-related language led to conflicts. Our focus spans various agreements, offering a comprehensive analysis of financial terms to highlight critical considerations for drafting robust contracts.
Join our experts to learn how to:
- Strategically craft language to secure financial rights.
- Identify and rectify vague or ambiguous financial terms to prevent interpretative disputes.
- Enhance your proficiency in reviewing and negotiating contracts with a keen eye on financial and accounting implications.
- Ultimately strengthen your defense against potential legal challenges.
Speakers:
- Josh Epstein, Senior Manager, Forensics & Litigation Support, MNP
- Graham Quast, Partner, Forensics & Litigation Support, MNP
|
| 11:50am |
Peer-to-Peer Roundtables
Back by popular demand, these roundtable discussions will be one of the highlights of the Retreat! Join your peers for engaging group discussions on a wide variety of issues impacting in-house counsel. This is your opportunity to ask specific questions, share your experiences and be inspired to face the challenges ahead!
The exact topics and groups will be customized to the participants. We will be asking for your input closer to the date.
|
| 12:35pm |
Lunch |
| 1:35pm |
Recruitment, Retention and Employee Satisfaction: Key Findings from the 2024 Compensation Survey
Sponsored by The Counsel Network │ Caldwell
Explore the world of in-house counsel salaries and benefits to see how you measure up! Using data gathered from the 2024 In-House Counsel Compensation and Career Survey, commissioned by The Counsel Network in partnership with the CCCA, we’ll look at current trends, challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of in-house counsel renumeration.
Since its inception in 2009, this survey has provided concrete, practical information on compensation for the in-house profession. Originating from a need to address the scarcity of information in the market, it has evolved into the most trusted tool for organizations of all types and sizes seeking data-backed insights into in-house counsel remuneration.
Our panel will help you:
- Decipher the findings, offering invaluable insights into the nuances of compensation and benefits across the country.
- Uncover actionable strategies that legal department and hiring managers can leverage to enhance team satisfaction and engagement.
- Identify compensation and career issues that will tip the scale in your favour when recruiting and retaining top talent.
- Navigate the evolving dynamics of in-house counsel compensation successfully now and into the future.
Speakers:
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| 2:20pm |
Effecting Change Through Strategic Law Firm Collaboration
Sponsored by McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Whether you are a part of a large or small legal team, the General Counsel role has evolved, becoming more demanding and complex. They are now the linchpin for boards and leadership, providing strategic advice and embodying the organization’s conscience. But the strategies and tactics taken will differ depending on the budget, resources and size of the department and organization.
Large departments may be able to leverage spending power but get bogged down in red tape and bureaucracy. Small and OLO teams may be limited by resources but have more latitude to find creative workarounds. These dynamics, whether myth or reality, can be extended to how General Counsel retain and work with their external counsel partners to identify knowledge gaps while delivering multidisciplinary, top-tier client service.
Join us as we explore the similarities and differences in approaches taken in small and large departments:
- Next-level client and law firm relationships founded on shared values, mutual accountability and trust within an overall governance structure.
- Best practices and experiences in investing in the relationship between in-house and external counsel.
- Fostering ongoing two-way open feedback, enhancing value and deepening the relationship beyond providing legal services.
Speakers:
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| 3:05pm |
Afternoon Break |
| 3:25pm |
From Legislation to Action: Practical Guidance on the Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act
Sponsored by Fasken
Effective May 31, 2024, the federal Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act requires that thousands of Canadian and multinational companies (both public and private) publicly report annually on human rights risks in their business operations and supply chains, both at home and abroad, for the first time. The=is new annual report must be detailed and accessible to the public and shareholders, and will be closely scrutinized by investors and other interested parties.
The federal government is treating this legislation as the first of a two-step process. It has announced that it intends to introduce a broader piece of legislation that will impose full-fledged “mandatory human rights due diligence” (mHRDD) obligations on regulated corporations in 2024. However, guidance provided to date is limited and vague in many respects.
As in-house counsel will inevitably have a leading role in assisting their organizations in complying with the new legislation, join us to learn:
- Practical strategies for complying with the reporting requirements under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.
- What can be expected in the government’s yet to be introduced mHRDD legislation later this year and guidance on what has been done in other jurisdictions.
Speakers:
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| 4:10pm |
From Investigation to Rebuilding: Ethics, Scandals and Solutions
Sponsored by Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
As in-house counsel, we’re often called on to help manage or oversee an investigation. Whether it’s an investigation into internal HR-related matters or public regulatory issues, how we handle it goes well beyond just legal compliance. We need to understand stakeholder expectations, employee dynamics and media relations at a minimum.
Join our expert panel as they discuss real-world case studies, shedding light on investigatory issues that go beyond the legal realm. From internal HR-related matters to public regulatory challenges, we'll explore the multifaceted landscape you navigate.
Here's a glimpse of what to expect:
- The ethical dimensions of the in-house counsel role, and your professional responsibilities during and after an investigation.
- Tips for dealing with public scandals: what to embrace and, more importantly, what to avoid, including how to manage employees during this sensitive time.
- What to do with the investigation report: how to implement recommendations and rebuild relationships and trust after an investigation.
Speakers:
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| 4:55pm |
Closing Reception |