Letter from the President

Nicholas Unkovic
BABC President & Partner, Squire Patton Boggs

   
Dear Friends of the BABC,

March has been another full
month here at the BABC, - here's what we've been up to.

On the 14th, we co-hosted the Winter European Networking event, which saw the BABC team up with the French American Chamber of Commerce, and the German American Business Association to bring over 150 guests from many different countries together for an evening of drinks, food, and networking at BABC Corporate member Docusign's impressive headquarters.

Check out the photos from the event
here .

Then, on the 15th, we held our 4th annual Words of Wisdom event, hosted by patron member Hogan Lovells. This year
' s event focused on Artificial Intelligence, and 60 guests enjoyed an evening of insightful and exciting conversation from an expert panel on current trends, issues, and future predictions for AI.

You can see some of the photos from the event
here or read the full write up here .

Coming up in April, we will be partnering with Said Business School for this month
' s  Happy Hour on the 10th, and will be hosting two more major events: GDPR are you ready? Hosted by Premier Members Penningtons Manches and NCC Group on the 11th, and our annual British Expats event hosted by Premier members E&M Mayock, and Florin Pensions on the 25th. 
 
Last but not least, as you will see from our new and renewing member sections further down this newsletter, the BABC community remains as strong and vibrant as ever. I hope you will join me in welcoming the newest members of our growing and dynamic community - their information can be found below. Please take a moment to visit their websites and contact our executive director Jo Healey if you would like to learn more.  
 

Best,
Nicholas Unkovic
President, BABC Northern California


Director Testimonials
Our thanks to Andy MacKay and 20/20 Productions for producing this video.
If your company is interested in the video production capabilities of 20/20 Productions please contact [email protected]


BABC Featured Events







BABC Events Calendar
Apr 9
Apr 10
Apr 11
Apr 17
Apr 22
Apr 25
May 2
May 14
Jun 6
Jun 12
Jul 12
Jul 20
Sep 8

 
Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsors play an important role in the development and growth of the British American Business Council (BABC). BABC sponsors benefit from an increased visibility within and beyond the BABC community and are able to cultivate important business relationships. Their support helps BABC offer a wide range of events and services.

From The Consul General's Desk


Dear Friends and Members of the BABC,
 
If you have not had the chance to see Mandy Barker's ' Beyond Drifting' in person, I encourage you find a time to do so. It's an incredibly eye-opening look at marine plastic debris - an issue we all must tackle.
What you may not know, is the Foreign Secretary recently decided to take on this issue by banning all avoidable single-use plastic in the Foreign Office Building in London by the end of 2018, and then in the global organisation completely by 2020.
The drive comes on the back of the launch of the government's 25-Year Environment Plan last month, which set out measures to reduce plastic waste.
The FCO already has a strong record in sustainability. Its most recent annual sustainability report show that in 2016 to 2017 in its UK operations the FCO:
  • reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 39%
  • reduced water consumption by 12.9m litres
  • reduced waste & recycling produced by 45%
  • reduced paper consumption by 42%
In wider Government efforts, in the Spring Statement, the Chancellor called for ideas on how to use the tax code to discourage single-use plastics. The Government wants to look broadly across the whole supply chain, from production and retail to consumption and disposal, in order to gain the best possible understanding of the whole landscape before deciding on the best course of action. You can learn more here .
I know there are a lot of good examples of this already happening in California, including the banning of single-use plastic bags state wide in 2016 and San Francisco requiring composting(which almost eliminates plastics), of which we can learn from and feedback. But in my own experience doing beach clean ups here, it's still an issue and we can all be adversely affected if we all do not do our part.
 

Andrew Whittaker,
HM Consul General  

Previous BABC Events
Global Words of Wisdom on... Artificial Intelligence

March 15th saw the BABC hold its 4 th annual Global Words of Wisdom event at Hogan Lovells. This year the focus was on artificial intelligence, with an impressive panel of experts from various fields providing their perspectives on various aspects of the AI topic, including current trends and applications of AI, issues we have seen or may expect to see with AI, and some predictions for what the future of AI might look like.

Our thanks go to all of our attendees, and our sponsors, Hogan Lovells, Fitzgerald & Law, and London & Partners - we couldn't have done it without you and we greatly appreciate your support. Thanks also to to our fantastic moderator, Andrew Lindquist from  Fitzgerald and Law, and our panelists: Theo Blackwell of   Office of the Mayor of London, Yarmela Pavlovic of Hogan Lovells, Jonathan Miranda of Salesforce, Avi Tuschman of Pinpoint Predictive, Robin Bordoli of CrowdFlower, and Laura Citron of London & Partners.  
 
Last, but not least, thanks to the BABC Team for coordinating all the fine details to bring this event to life.
 
Click here to see the photos.
  
Winter European Networking Event

On March 14th the BABC, along with the FACCSF and GABA co-hosted the Winter European Networking evening. Over 150 guests from a host of different countries in Europe and the wider world attended the event at BABC Corporate member Docusign's impressive headquarters. Guests were treated to drinks, food, and a fun evening mixing with the diverse crowd.

Our thanks go to all of our attendees, and our fellow European chambers, as always it was a pleasure hosting event with the GABA and FACCSF. Special thanks goes to Docusign for hosting in their wonderful office space.    

If you missed the event, you can check out the photos below, and please plan to join us at our next European Networking Event 
 
Click here to see the photos.
  
BABC Member News
Penningtons Manches Release Guide to Doing Business in the UK


The UK has a long history of international trade and, for many overseas companies with international aspirations, remains the first stop on their journey of global expansion. With its combination of trading history, world-class universities and strengths in key sectors such as life sciences and technology, the UK continues to attract investment from all over the world. Its time zone, close proximity to Europe and the fact that English is still the common language of international trade are key factors in the UK's continuing success in attracting and retaining international investment and talent. 
 
Opinion: 'What Silicon Valley and the U.S. need to know about China'

'China today is no longer just copying Western technology, but piecing together its own innovation system.

With its expanding economy and a stronger role by government, the new technology strategy is raising competitive issues for Silicon Valley companies - and policy issues for the nation.' - Says Sean Randolph of Bay Area Economic Institute.

Squire Patton Boggs: UK Retail Brexit Trade Review

New research launched today from Retail Economics and Squire Patton Boggs shows that £7.8 billion could be added to the cost of retail goods if the UK fails to agree a deal with the EU.

The research features in the first edition of the UK Retail Brexit and Trade Quarterly Review. The review contains economic, policy and legal analysis on the impact of trade and up-to-date narrative on the progress of UK and EU trade negotiations specific to the retail industry.

Aer Lingus Announces New Transatlantic Saver Fare
Squire Patton Boggs - Overview of Private Company Mergers and Acquisitions


This memorandum provides an overview of a typical acquisition of a US-based privately held corporation (though we also discuss some aspects of limited liability company (LLC) acquisitions, and many of
the matters discussed also apply to public company transactions).

It first describes the basic types of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and then discusses the development over time of the key elements of an acquisition: (1) the business transaction, (2) the documentation and (3) any necessary regulatory matters.  To download the full publication, click here .
Lewis & Llewellyn Honored by Benchmark Litigation


Benchmark Litigation recently released its 2018 rankings, and it ranked Lewis & Llewellyn one of the few "recommended" law firms in California. In order to compile the list, Benchmark undertakes an exhaustive process which includes client, peer and partner interviews.

As Benchmark notes, every firm that achieved the "recommended" status was deemed a leader in its respective market. It further commented that since its opening six years ago, the firm "has generated a significant level of buzz." Read more
CFGI Partners with The Carlyle Group


New York, NY - Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) today announced it has invested in Boston-based CFGI, a national provider of high-end technical accounting and finance advisory services to the office of the Chief Financial Officer. CFGI currently serves more than 500 national and international clients, with offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco. 

Equity for the investment came from Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners III (CGFSP III) and CFGI management. CGFSP III is Carlyle's third dedicated financial services fund and this transaction represents the fund's first investment.
BABC Network News
British Benevolent Society Newsletter
BABC March Policy Update
 

BABC March Trade and Investment Update

In the UK and the US, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economies. The majority of exporting companies are SMEs. Here is where innovation happens; here is where growth becomes tangible.
 
This month, we dedicate this newsletter to all these small and medium-sized enterprises and the people behind them. And there is good reason for this. Recent research from our partners Mills & Reeve LLP ' Expanding international horizons ' and the ' US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index ' show that SMEs are optimistic when it comes to trade and investment, despite the political times of change we are in.
 
This month we celebrated some of these companies at the BAB Transatlantic Growth Awards in London. Companies who stand out and serve as an example of the thousands who trade and invest every day across the Atlantic.
 
For smaller businesses in particular, taking the first steps can be challenging. This is why there needs to be a support system and an environment that helps businesses grow. We have been proud to support the launch of the U.S.-UK SME Dialogue in Washington, D.C. - a platform that will help to further bring together efforts aimed to help businesses turn their transatlantic business ambition into reality. We encourage you to join us in these efforts. Together with our partners from business and Governments, we are here to help!
 
Our transatlantic network grows every day. Join us and get in touch at [email protected] . Don't forget you can also follow @BABCTrade on twitter for the latest information. If you are interested in receiving our policy news, see information at the bottom of the update
BABC attends first meeting of US-UK SME Dialogue

On behalf of the British-American Business Council, Emanuel Adam, last week attended a meeting of the newly established US-UK SME Dialogue, held in Washington D.C.

Taking place around the 3rd US-UK Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting, Adam said the meeting was convened to explore the future US-UK trade and investment relationship post-Brexit and to look at opportunities to deepen the transatlantic economic relationship - particularly for SMEs.


Meet our New Members
New Corporate Level Members  
B|Spoke Branding

BSPOKE equips clients for success through comprehensive brand development, tailored brand strategy / storytelling, digital content, integrated social media, and real-world engagement. BSPOKE specializes in team work-sessions, training, and speaking engagements across a variety of briefs, as well as developing, managing, and designing high-impact content, social media campaigns, social media takeovers, and brand experiences.

James Mowdy founded BSPOKE in 2011. His clients and colleagues have called him a "consummate brand activation expert" and "creative analytic" who delivers "real-world results." James' Twitter and Periscope insights were featured in PR Daily, and as a speaker at PR News' San Francisco 2016 Conference (#Social16), #PMGCONF, and The City Club of San Francisco, respectively. BSPOKE clients include The University of California San Francisco, Santa Fe Opera, Community Tech Alliance, Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC), and the British American Business Council of San Francisco. Honored to be a returning BABCSF member.

Taj Resorts

Quintessentially Indian in its fabric, Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris is recognized the world over for delivering a unique flavour of hospitality that offers world-class refinement while remaining deeply rooted in its local heritage. With over 100 hotels in 62 locations, Taj offers guests the refined luxury of heritage, the effortlessly efficient service and amenities and a local experience with the assurance of quality.

From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury.

For over a century, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, the iconic flagship has set a benchmark for fine living with exquisite refinement, inventiveness and warmth. Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris is part of the Tata Group, India's premier business house.
New Business Level Member  


Individual and Young Professional Members  
 
Individual Members
Mark O'Sullivan
Our Thanks to these Renewing Members
Patron Level Members 
HSBC

HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. With around 6,000 offices in both established and emerging markets, we aim to be where the growth is, connecting customers to opportunities, enabling businesses to thrive and economies to prosper, and, ultimately, helping people to fulfill their hopes and realise their ambitions.

We serve more than 47 million customers through our four Global Businesses:
Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Global Private Banking. Our network covers 71 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, North America and Latin America.

HSBC was born from one simple idea - a local bank serving international needs. The experiences of the past 150 years have formed the character of HSBC. A glance at our history explains why we believe in capital strength, in strict cost control and in building long-term relationships with customers.

HSBC has weathered change in all forms - revolutions, economic crises, new technologies - and adapted to survive. The resulting corporate character enables HSBC to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Premier Level Members 
Giant Enterprises

Powered by a top-rated management team and roll-up-the-sleeves creative muscle, Giants Enterprises helps businesses and organizations throw one-of-a-kind experiences at AT&T Park and throughout San Francisco. From intimate to huge, formal to playful, jaw-dropping to heartwarming, we deliver everything you need to host events that are second to none. Our roster of services includes campaign management, commercial development, catering, ticketing, marketing and public relations. As one of the top hospitality, event, entertainment and sports consultancy teams in the world, we've built a reputation for hitting it out of the park with an unbeatable roster of venues and services. We'd be happy to do the same for you.
Giants Enterprises and iconic AT&T Park will provide the spectacular backdrop to the four-day Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in July, 2018 that features 24 men's teams and 16 women's teams competing for the title of World Champions. San Francisco 2018 will be the seventh-edition of the global tournament and the third to feature both men's and women's competitions. Fans are encouraged to sign up to register their interest in tickets via the official tournament website.

Corporate Level Members 
Carr McClellan

Carr McClellan is a boutique business and business litigation firm based in Northern California. For 70 years we have served privately held, publicly traded and venture-backed companies, offering a high level of client service which has resulted in client engagements that last for decades.
Innovative, successful businesses in a range of industries turn to Carr McClellan for insightful, trusted guidance on all their legal matters. That combination of insight and integrity is increasingly rare, and it's why our clients stay with us for years, if not decades.
Thanks to our in-depth expertise, you get the most effective advice and strategic solutions. And because we're so deeply involved in your business, we understand your long-term objectives and can offer counsel that helps you reach your goals.
We judge our success on your success. Which is why, every day, we work on finding the smartest ways to make your vision a reality.
At Carr McClellan, we make it happen.

Hannon Digital

Hannon Digital was founded by Colm Hannon, an Irish technology entrepreneur in London with a background in elite sport and enterprise social media. In 2009 Colm founded The Digital Leaders Think Tank, an exclusive invitation-only round table think tank for global leaders in digital, marketing and communications. The DLTT members' feedback to Colm was that they nearly all wanted to work with a digital company that could blend the capabilities of a social media agency with those of a full-service digital marketing agency and a digital communications consultancy: and from that advice Hannon Digital was born.

Today Hannon Digital is exactly what the Digital Leaders asked for; a one-stop shop for B2B digital marketing and communications advice, training and managed services. If you are a leader from a B2B company and you are serious about improving your digital marketing and communications in one of your teams or departments - or across your whole organisation - then get in touch today for a conversation with Colm or one of the team.

Montgomery Pacific Law Group

Our clients count on us to do certain things extraordinarily well. As corporate attorneys, we help start up, emerging, and later stage companies successfully grow.Inspired technology, life science, and other privately held companies from the Bay Area and all over the world seek us out because we offer our clients an exceptional blend of sophisticated big law firm, general counsel and cross-border transactional expertise, with a boutique law firm's ability to focus laser sharp attention on their unique business and legal needs. We partner with entrepreneurs at all stages of their company's growth trajectory, from incorporation to financings to mergers and acquisitions. We are proud to provide all of our clients with an unsurpassed combination of pragmatic legal counsel and astute business advice.Our in-depth international experience is highly valued by companies that expand to Silicon Valley from outside the US, and US companies that are building international enterprises.


Delightful Communications

Delightful Communications is a Modern Marketing & Digital PR consulting agency that creates next-generation experiences to help businesses and individuals keep the pace with growing digital audiences through creative ideation, strategic planning, captivating content and enduring amplification.

Our mission is to build brilliant brands through people, not just pixels, helping your message and purpose be more discoverable, sharable and memorable by putting people - customers, executives and employees - at the heart of each and everything you do.

In short > We help businesses AND people be more Discoverable, Sharable and Memorable.

While we specialize in Influencer Marketing, Digital PR and Personal Branding, our experience, skills and creative flair means we're an asset to augment any marketing or PR department wanting their message to transcend the norm through Social Media Strategies and Content Marketing.

http://www.delightfulcommunications.com/
Spott Lucey & Wall

Spott Lucey & Wall is a local CPA firm providing a full range of taxation and attestation services. We have over 30 years of experience assisting our domestic and international business and individual clients manage their demanding cross border transactions. We offer our clients extensive technical skills and resources to provide solutions to complex business issues. Our professional staff has been specially trained with the quality and depth of knowledge to help our clients succeed.
Spott, Lucey & Wall, Inc. offers our clients an extensive technical skill and resource base. We maintain audit and accounting service capabilities for attestation requirements (audits, reviews, compilations, or other agreed upon services). Our clients include middle market companies and membership organizations.
Spott, Lucey & Wall, Inc. also works with many of our clients on international business and tax affairs. We handle matters for foreign corporations investing in or owning United States businesses, foreign citizens working in the United States, as well as U.S. citizens and residents working abroad.
http://www.spottluceywall-cpas.com/
Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines was founded in 1947 as the National Airline of Panama, It began operations with flights to three cities in Panama on Douglas DC-3/C47 planes. In 2017, Copa Airlines marks seven decades of continuous growth and progress-from its earliest beginnings, when it flew between two cities in Panama, to its current status as one of the leading airlines in the Americas.

At Copa Airlines, we take pride in providing all of our passengers with world-class service, the best on-time performance in the region, and access to the most destinations through the Hub of the Americas.

Business Level & Community Partner Members  
 

 
 


 
       
Individual and Young Professional Members  
 
Individual Members
Peter Woodhouse
Andrew Greenman
Peter Patterson

Christian Kimball
Forrest Booth
Mark Heslop

Young Professional Members
Eira Jones 
Member Offers & Discounts
Please log in to the BABC Member Information Center to access these fantastic Member-Member Hot Deals and Discounts.

If you have forgotten your username and password, you can reset it here.
Hot Deal
Member:
Color Consultation and 15% off Hot Deal!
$250 off your First 30 day stay!
Excellent Discounts on Goldschmidt Vineyard Wines
 
Fairmont San Francisco - 15% Discount Off Best Available rate on hotel reservations

OFX Foreign Currency Exchange - Free transfers and a preferred rate of exchange!
 
British Airways Promotional Offer for BABC and BA Executive Club Members
10% Discount at InterContinental Hotels

$50 off Youth Soccer Camp Fees

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca- Discount on tickets to the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge
 
Turkish Airlines - Substantially discounted Business and Economy Fares to Europe.
 

British American Business Council | (415) 296-8645 | [email protected] | www.babcsf.org
See what's happening on our social sites: