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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Heyward Bouknight
Deputy General Counsel, National Gypsum
I love March. March is a month that truly has it all: my wife’s birthday, my youngest daughter’s birthday, the start of spring and longer days, the ACC Tournament (with the Men’s tournament just wrapping up right here in Charlotte), and NCAA March Madness just to name a few. And it is also when our ACC Charlotte Chapter kicks into high gear each year!
Our Chapter is off to a busy start in 2025. By the time you receive this newsletter, we will have already hosted three well-attended chapter CLE lunches at the Hamilton, each offering enriching CLE content and networking opportunities. Our newest firm sponsor Baker Donelson hosted a sold out professional development event at Myers Park Country Club on leadership skills. We kicked off our 2025 social calendar with a vibrant event at the Puttery organized by our "New to In-House" committee. Our Manufacturing Affinity Group hosted an event at Rooster's, complete with wine tasting and engaging table conversation topics. Additionally, our Women’s Affinity group put together a Mahjong session, blending camaraderie and competition.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events in April as we continue to enjoy our strong and supportive professional community. Whether you're looking to expand your professional network, keep up with a rapidly changing legal landscape, or simply enjoy some leisure time with colleagues, our events offer something for everyone. Stay tuned for more details coming to you each week in our Monday morning emails and be sure to sign up for events before they fill up!
Cheers to another great year filled with growth, connection, and memorable experiences! I look forward to seeing you out and about.
| | ACC CHARLOTTE MEMBER NEWS | | |
Welcome ACC Charlotte New Members!
January 2025 - March 2025
Tony Eaves, General Counsel, Forge Consulting LLC
Claire Ferguson, VP, Asst GC, Gray Media, Inc.
Brett Gold, In-House Counsel, Midrex Technologies Inc.
Christine Houston, Corporate Counsel, Compass Group USA, Inc.
Haminat Kasali-Akintayo, Corporate Counsel, Jeld-Wen, Inc.
Julia Kelley, Assistant General Counsel, Collins Aerospace / Raytheon Technologies
Larissa Lacman, Senior Counsel, Confluent, Inc.
Hillary Levun, General Counsel, Honeywell International Inc.
Amelia Lowe, Assistant Counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Aubree Manley, In-House Counsel, American Forest Management
Madison Mitchell, Labor & Employment and Litigation, Jeld-Wen, Inc.
Tim Palmer, Corporate Counsel, Piedmont Lithium Inc.
Zachary Porfiris, Director of Business & Legal Affairs, Symphonic Distribution
Amanda Power, Senior IP Attorney, AngioDynamics, Inc.
Margaret Ramseur, Corporate Counsel, UKG Inc.
Richard Rosenzweig, EVP, Corporate Development, General Counsel & Secretary, Dentsply Sirona, Inc.
Don Sain, VP, Office of General Counsel, The Auto Club Group
Frances Scibelli, Corporate Counsel, Compass Group USA, Inc.
Patra Sinner, General Counsel, Symphonic Distribution
Holly van den Toorn, Director, Senior Legal Counsel, Sterling Capital Management LLC
Robert Vass, Counsel, Jeld-Wen, Inc.
David Wall, Senior Associate, Legal, TIAA
Karen Washington, Senior Counsel - Senior AVP, Wells Fargo & Company
Kasey West, Associate Counsel, Wells Fargo Law Department
Darryl Wilson, Assistant General Counsel, Sysco Corporation
Holly Zurawski, Director of Lease Administration and Real Estate Counsel, The Cato Corporation
David Zdurne, Associate General Counsel, IP, Dentsply Sirona, Inc.
| | RECENT CHAPTER NEWS & EVENTS | | 2025 ACC Charlotte Board of Directors | |
ACC Charlotte is thrilled to acknowledge our 2025 Executive Board of Directors, who bring exceptional leadership and expertise to our chapter. Below find the list of our 2025 board members:
PRESIDENT
Heyward Bouknight, Deputy General Counsel, National Gypsum Company
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Mary-Karen Bierman, Director - Senior Counsel, Wastequip, LLC
VP - SPONSORSHIP & PROGRAMMING
Alysja Carlisle, VP & Legal Counsel, Belk, Inc.
SECRETARY
Megan Scholz, Senior VP & Associate General Counsel, Bank of America Corporation
TREASURER
Tim Lendino, Managing Legal Counsel, Compass Group USA, Inc.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Lisa LaVigne, Senior Legal Counsel, CIPP/US, CIPM, PLS, CVS Health Corporation
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Kerry-ann Archer, Senior Counsel, Wells Fargo Legal Dept.
Keith Atkinson, Division General Counsel, Nuveen
Anna Blackwelder, Head of Legal North America, SGL Carbon, LLC
Burgin Hardin, Corporate Counsel, National Gypsum Company
Drew Slabaugh, Senior Legal Counsel, SERC Reliability Corp.
We look forward to an exciting year ahead under their guidance!
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Attendees had an amazing evening at Puttery for this New-to-In-House event, sponsored by one of our incredible Platinum Sponsors, Parker Poe! Members and Parker Poe attorneys joined forces for an engaging session, mastering soft skills and navigating challenging scenarios while enjoying a round of mini golf. From tricky situations on the front nine to valuable insights shared on the back nine, the event was filled with collaboration, great food, refreshing drinks, and meaningful connections. The event was a fantastic opportunity to learn, network, and have fun on the green - truly a hole-in-one!
ACC Charlotte’s New to In-House (NIH) group provides a safe place for in-house attorneys to ask questions, share wisdom, and build relationships through mentoring and meaningful events. All ACC Charlotte members are encouraged to join. In-house attorneys who are experienced (5+ years in-house) and newer (< 5 years in-house), gather to get to know one another, create formal and informal mentoring, facilitate connectivity and deepen in-house relationships.
Thank you to Parker Poe for sponsoring this New to In House event.
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Manufacturing Affinity Event | Uncorked Conversation: Wine'd Down Your Day
Sponsored by Shumaker - 3/18/25
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ACC Charlotte members had a fantastic time with Shumaker and the Manufacturing Affinity Group at Rooster’s in South Park! It was a wonderful evening of wine, engaging conversations, and thought-provoking table topics, from current events to manufacturing-focused prompts. A huge thank you to Shumaker for sponsoring this incredible opportunity to connect and share ideas in a relaxed, casual setting.
Thank you to Shumaker for sponsoring this Manufacturing Affinity Group event.
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Women's Event | Mahjong Mastery
Sponsored by Bradley - 3/25/25
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ACC Charlotte women members gathered with the women of Bradley for an exceptional evening of connection and learning, centered around the art of Mahjong! Led by the talented Jill Graham and her team from Queen City Mahjong, both beginners and experienced players bonded as they mastered this intricate game. With delicious food, refreshing drinks, and the camaraderie of women in legal sharing strategies and laughs, the event created an empowering atmosphere and strengthened meaningful relationships in a welcoming setting.
Thank you to Bradley for sponsoring this women's event.
| | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS | | |
Professional Development | A Baker’s Dozen of Practical Leadership Strategies from "Everybody Leads"
Sponsored by Baker Donelson - 3/20/25
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Tim Lupinacci, CEO and Chairman of Baker Donelson, delivered an inspiring discussion at Myers Park Country Club on key leadership concepts from his upcoming book, "Everybody Leads: How You Lead and Why it Matters." Tim emphasized that everyone, regardless of title or position, plays a leadership role and has the potential to grow into a more effective leader. Drawing from his own journey filled with real-world experiences, setbacks, and lessons learned, he demonstrated how hard work and self-discipline are essential for leadership growth. Attendees enjoyed a thought-provoking presentation, a delicious lunch, and the opportunity to reflect on their own leadership development.
Thank you to Baker Donelson for sponsoring this Professional Development event.
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Insurance Basics for In-House Counsel
Sponsored by Robinson Bradshaw - 1/15/25
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ACC Charlotte held its first Chapter Meeting of 2025 at The Hamilton where members enjoyed lunch and attended an informative presentation from Robinson Bradshaw. The presentation covered an overview of key coverages, common exclusions, and recommendations tailored to various business models and risk profiles. Attendees learned about important contractual provisions on insurance coverage obligations, strategies for filing claims, and disputing denials, as well as emerging trends in COVID-related coverage litigation. It was a highly educational event and a great opportunity for connection!
Thank you to Robinson Bradshaw for sponsoring this CLE.
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Cross-Border Legal Issues: Developments in Doing Business in France, Switzerland and The United Kingdom
Sponsored by Shumaker - 2/5/25
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Moderator:
David Conaway, Partner, Shumaker
Panelists:
Alexis Marchand (Paris): Cornet Vincent Segurel
Markus Bosiger (Zurich): BEELEGAL Bosiger, Engel, Egloff
Christopher Pollard (UK): Field Seymour Parkes
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ACC Charlotte's February Chapter Meeting was held at The Hamilton, featuring an engaging panel presentation delivered by attorneys from the Global Advocaten group sponsored by Shumaker. Esteemed EU lawyers from France, Switzerland, and the UK provided valuable insights into recent legal developments impacting global business risks and opportunities. Their presentation covered key topics, including legal pitfalls in cross-border M&A transactions, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance. The event offered members a unique opportunity to gain international perspectives and deepen our members' understanding of navigating global legal landscapes.
Thank you to Shumaker for sponsoring this CLE.
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WEBINAR | Trade Secret Protection for Generative AI Innovations
Sponsored by Moore & Van Allen - 2/18/25
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Speaker:
Anup Iyer, Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property, Moore & Van Allen
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Anup Iyer, Senior Counsel with Moore & Van Allen, delivered a compelling webinar on the role of trade secrets in protecting innovations stemming from Generative AI (Gen AI). The presentation explored the limitations of traditional intellectual property protections, such as patents and copyrights, in addressing the unique challenges posed by non-human-created outputs. Key topics included strategies for safeguarding AI inputs, processes, and outputs through trade secret protection, mitigating confidentiality risks, and implementing effective trade secret policies. Attendees gained practical insights into leveraging trade secrets to secure competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving legal landscape of AI-driven innovations.
Thank you to MVA for sponsoring this CLE webinar.
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WEBINAR | Executive Compensation: Attracting, Retaining and Mitigating Risk
Sponsored by Poyner Spruill - 2/25/25
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Jesse St. Cyr and Hannah Munn, Partners at Poyner Spruill, discussed the importance of attracting and retaining executives and key employees to ensure an organization’s success. They highlighted how offers of employment often included special perks and promises designed to attract executives. While these additional benefits are pivotal in securing top talent, they also have the potential to create unintended liabilities. The session explored common issues related to executive compensation arrangements and the associated risks. The speakers provided practical advice on structuring compensation packages with future-proof elements to anticipate challenges. They emphasized strategies for adapting packages in cases where executives underperformed or didn’t align with the company’s culture. Attendees learned how to identify potential issues early, mitigating liabilities and fostering long-term organizational success.
Thank you to Poyner Spruill for sponsoring this CLE webinar.
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Defeating Data Breach Class Actions
Sponsored by Womble Bond Dickinson - 3/5/25
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At our March Chapter Meeting at The Hamilton, Mark Henriques, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, discussed the surge in class action lawsuits due to data breaches, with over 2,000 cases filed in 2023. Allegations included inadequate cybersecurity, misleading security protocols, and delayed breach notifications. Key legal claims focused on negligence, breach of contract, and privacy violations. Henriques highlighted the inconsistent application of standing in courts, particularly regarding future identity theft risks, and the importance of the Supreme Court's decision in Transunion v. Ramirez. He also discussed arbitration clauses and compliance with industry standards as defense strategies, alongside approaches like motions to dismiss and summary judgment for early case resolution. The presentation concluded with advice on robust cybersecurity measures, such as technology investment, incident response planning, and regular security audits, to prevent breaches and reduce litigation risks.
Thank you to Womble Bond Dickinson for sponsoring this CLE.
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Whistleblowers and Internal Investigations: Practical and Ethical Implications
Sponsored by Troutman Pepper - 3/27/25
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Speakers:
Matt Orso, Partner, Troutman Pepper Locke
Charlie Peeler, Partner, Troutman Pepper Locke
Greg Forest, Partner/Principal, Davis & Forest Investigative Group
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This CLE event at Brewers at 4001 Yancey featured speakers Matt Orso and Charlie Peeler, Partners at Troutman Pepper Locke, alongside Greg Forest, Partner/Principal at Davis & Forest Investigative Group. They discussed the DOJ's 2024 Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, which incentivized whistleblowers to report corporate misconduct for financial rewards, motivating employees to disclose potential unlawful activity. The presentation focused on practical and ethical considerations when investigating whistleblower complaints, including representation issues, handling whistleblowers, and decisions on self-reporting. Executive misconduct investigations and their unique complexities were also addressed. The event concluded with a happy hour, where attendees enjoyed food, drinks, and engaging discussions.
Thank you to Troutman Pepper for sponsoring this CLE.
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The contents of this newsletter are intended to convey general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. The contents of this newsletter should not be relied upon for legal or tax advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. The information presented may not reflect the most current legal developments. No action should be taken in reliance on the information and we disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this site to the fullest extent permitted by law. An attorney should be contacted for advice on specific legal issues.
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