November 2024

Congrats to ACC St. Louis member, Barbara Barrett, who serves as the Program Chair for The Compliance and Ethics Network, which received an achievement award for Large Network of the Year at the ACC Annual Meeting!

(L-R): Cristina Conzalez, ACC Board Chair, ACC Board Chair, Steven Smart, Tracy Preston, Outgoing ACC Board Chair, Aryeh Friedman, Leasa Anderson, Amit Patel, Barbara Barrett, Veta Richardson, ACC President and CEO

In Advance of Election, Antitrust Enforcement Revs Up

By: Ed Pivin and Evan Reid 

The theme for 2024 in the area of antitrust in the United States is increased enforcement and, consequently, increased costs and risks for business. While high-profile suits against big players in the tech industry grab headlines, behind the scenes the story has been one of increased agency activity and coordination between the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission in the area of merger enforcement. Last year ended with the issuance of new final merger guidelines that lower the market concentration threshold at which the agencies may presume anticompetitive effect from a transaction. The new guidelines made numerous other changes, including focusing on partial acquisitions (minority owners) and “conglomerate mergers” that risk entrenching a company in a dominant market position even if a particular acquisition involves a different product or service market.

Earlier this year, the agencies banded together to probe “serial acquisitions”, defined as “corporate consolidation strategies that occur when a company becomes larger — and potentially dominant — by buying several smaller firms in the same or related business sectors or industries.” These sorts of roll-ups can quietly achieve sufficient power to dominate markets over time, and the agencies are wanting to learn more about them. A discussion of serial acquisitions was also included in the new merger guidelines, so it should be expected that targeted enforcement actions will follow in the future.

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ACC St. Louis Litigation PAN Chess Strategy: Endgame Techniques

Offers Members Yet Another Educational Networking Opportunity!

On November 6, 2024, chapter members took advantage of another unique opportunity at the World Chess Hall of Fame in the Central West End to delve into the intricacies of chess and learn endgame techniques from the GrandMaster in Residence, Var Akobian. 

This event marked the third of a four-event series in partnership with the World Chess Hall of Fame featuring valet parking, networking, food and beverages, and access to the rotating museum exhibits.

Chapter members are encouraged to register HERE for the last event of the series, taking place on Wednesday, December 11th!

(Above): ACC St. Louis members soak in the teachings of GrandMaster in Residence, Var Akobian, at the third of four educational series events at the World Chess Hall of Fame.

Corporate Counsel Hiring and Compensation Trends: 2025 Outlook

By: Megan Usovsky, Robert Half

Corporate legal departments are bringing more legal work in-house to control costs, including creating corporate counsel roles. Demand for specialized skills is also driving hiring, according to Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report. However, corporate legal departments are finding it difficult to match the rising salaries offered by law firms, leading to a competitive hiring environment.

Compensation reigns supreme

According to the 2025 Salary Guide from Robert Half, the coming year will see continued salary growth in most legal fields, although increases may be more moderate than in the recent past. Still, legal hiring managers recognize that offering competitive compensation remains vital for retaining key staff and attracting top talent in a tight market.

The Salary Guide shows corporate counsel salaries are among those on the increase. For lawyers/attorneys with 10+ years of experience, the U.S. salary range is $139,250 to $195,500, with a median of $169,000. For those with 4-9 years of experience, the range is $107,500 to $170,250, with a median of $137,000.

Read more... 

CULTURAL COMPASS LISTING

(Community Events to Explore and Expand Your Horizons)

Brought to You by the Bridges Committee

· November is Native American History Month!

· Nov 7-17: 33rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) | Various venues | Multiple ticket options including All-Access Pass | Experience a diverse selection of 271 films from over 30 countries, including comedies, dramas, documentaries, and shorts programming | Theme: "The Great Escape" https://sliff.cinemastlouis.org/2024/

· Nov 24: A Narrative Wisdom-inspired performance by The Black Rep | Saint Louis Art Museum | Free event | 1:30-2:20pm | Original play exploring Black art through live interpretation, designed for youth grades 4-12 | Part of Family Sunday event https://www.slam.org/event/a-narrative-wisdom-inspired-performance-by-the-black-rep/

· Nov 29-30: Cahokia Mounds 21st Annual Native American Holiday Market | Collinsville VFW-Post 5691 | Free entry | Meet over 30 Tribal Affiliated artists, shop authentic Native American art, and learn about cultural traditions | 1234 Vandalia Street, Collinsville, IL https://cahokiamounds.org/holidaymart24/

· Dec 1: "The Viral Underclass" with Dr. Steven Thrasher | Missouri History Museum | Free event | 2:00pm | World AIDS Day presentation exploring how viruses expose society's fault lines, followed by book signing | Lee Auditorium | https://mohistory.org/events/viral-underclass

· Dec 8: The Wendell Pruitt Celebration of African American Service | Soldiers Memorial Military Museum | Free event, registration required | 2:00-4:30pm | Featuring keynote speaker Dr. Matthew Delmont discussing his book "Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad"| https://mohistory.org/events/wendell-pruitt-day

· Dec 8: Build Your Toolkit: How YOU can Become an Active Ally | St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum | $25 general admission, $15 for members | Workshop on understanding and responding to antisemitism, bigotry, racism, and hate | https://tickets.stlholocaustmuseum.org/events/c96c761a-66a3-29c5-d427-cea2b146317f

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