LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

LETTER FROM THE BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL

The British-American Business Council Northern California cordially invites you to the 34th Annual BABC Economic Forecast Luncheon on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at The City Club of San Francisco, presented by HSBC.

Discussion is growing in board rooms around the world about the impacts of generative AI. Reactions range from dystopian to optimistic as civic and technology leaders debate issues around control, the risks of misuse, and the upside benefits of higher productivity and efficiency. The 2024 Economic Forecast Luncheon will bring together leading economists and business strategists to discuss AI’s applications, its dissemination across industry, its potential risks and benefits, and the role being played by the San Francisco Bay Area.

Other topics will include:

• How inflation and interest rates could affect the economy in 2024.
• The outlook for the Bay Area economy, including tech, biotech and commercial real estate.
• APEC’s impact on San Francisco’s economy.
• Changes to the global economy, including relationships of the U.S. with China, India, North America (Canada and Mexico), and Europe.

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!

2023 was an interesting year underpinned by the explosion of AI (and Ozempic). And we’ve all been thankful for AI and everything it has done for the Bay Area’s economy but is AI going to be the saviour of our economy or the destroyer of our job market? Is 2024 going to see AI and the associated need for data security take over the world or will there be other sectors that will attract the attention of the venture capital community?

Join us in Menlo Park on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, for an exciting evening of discussions with a panel of Venture Capitalists. Explore insights into the technology community's outlook for 2024, compare their 2023 forecasts, and pose your questions.

Thank you to all who joined us at the Fairmont San Francisco on Friday, December 15th, 2023 for the 60th “Diamond” BABC Christmas Luncheon. How wonderful it was for us all to gather in-person to celebrate the season and to re-connect. We hope you had a magical day. Congratulations to all the Prize winners and THANK YOU to all who purchased items in the Live Auction.

CLICKE HERE TO READ THE FULL RECAP AND TO VIEW PHOTOS

And check out the video below produced by 2020 Productions:

The Mostly British Film Festival, an annual cinematic celebration of English-speaking countries, is back in Vogue, February 15-22, 2024 at the VOGUE THEATER. Founded a decade ago by Ruthe Stein and Jack Bair, this year's festival kicks off with a lively Opening Night Party at 5:30 pm at Presido Kebob, 3277 Sacramento Street. The Festival's centerpieces are highlighted below:

OPENING NIGHT

How to Have Sex

Far from an instructional video, How to Have Sex is a dazzling deeply-imagined coming-of-age feature from British director Molly Manning Walker. Her remarkably self-assured debut– winner of the Un Certain Regard jury prize at Cannes– magically transports the audience back to their teens, a time marked by confusing sexual feelings. Nominated for 13 British Independent Film Awards.

Thursday, February 15, 2024 - 7:30 pm

One Life

Anthony Hopkins dominates a heady ensemble cast (Helena Bonham Carter, Jonathan Pryce and Johnny Flynn) as real-life humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who saved more than 600 Czech children destined for Nazi concentration camps and brought them to safety in Great Britain.

Friday, February 16, 2024 - 7:30 pm

What’s Love Got to Do With It?

To answer the question provocatively posed in this title, love ultimately dictates the mating habits in this delightful rom-com, a throwback to past British romances like Notting Hill and Love Actually. The adorable Lily James stars as Zoe, a filmmaker shooting a documentary on the courtship of her lifelong friend, who has honored his Pakistani heritage by assenting to an arranged marriage.

Monday, February 19, 2024 - 7:00 pm

Wicked Little Letters

Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman team up again in this raunchy dark comedy. Set in 1920s rural England and based on a true story, the film tackles class inequities and expectations of women amidst the raucous carryings on. Great fun!

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - 7:30 pm

The Mostly British Film Festival is presented by the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation and makes its permanent home at the Vogue Theater. A series pass including all 26 films and opening and closing night parties with early access into the theater costs $350/$250 (discounted prices for members of SFFILM, the Fromm Institute, the Calvary Presbyterian Church and people 65 years and over). Opening night tickets are $50/$35, and closing night is $30/$20. Individual tickets are $20/$15. Tickets available at mostlybritish.org and the Vogue Theater box-office.

According to London & Partners, London has taken the number one spot in Resonance’s world’s best cities ranking for 2024. The consultancy group’s annual ranking considers qualitative and quantitative data, including GDP and evaluations on social media from locals and visitors. London came first place in two of the three main categories – livability, lovability and prosperity – which are used to calculate an overall score for each city. Resonance has also acknowledged how London’s transport has bounced back since the pandemic, as well as the amount of investment and tourists visiting the city as some reasons for the number one ranking.

For a complete breakdown of policy and trade headlines and BABN published works, click here.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Nancy Barrett

Maxine Erlund

Elizabeth Johnson

Solaris Suborbital

PREMIER MEMBERS

As the regional business development agency, Invest NI’s role is to grow the local economy. We do this by helping new and existing businesses to compete internationally, and by attracting new investment to Northern Ireland.

We are part of the Department of The Economy and provide strong government support for business by effectively delivering the Government’s economic development strategies. Some of the recent US Investors we have worked with include, Puppet Labs, Alert Logic, Rapid7, Proofpoint and Whitehat Security.

The smartest business solutions come when we work together – international but working as one integrated team. We’ve continually looked at every aspect of our business for the past 125 years. There’s always more we can do.

Collaborative, agile and partner-led: that’s Simmons & Simmons. A law firm that challenges, creates new possibilities and offers opinion not just option.

We focus on four highly regulated sectors – using our specialist skills to understand your business, and the forces at play around it. All grounded in exceptional knowledge of the legal detail.

This is how we consistently deliver smarter, more efficient, ways to tackle your most complex challenges.

ZEDRA is an international provider of Global Expansion, Funds and Active Wealth solutions. Our experienced teams deliver tailored high quality advice to companies and family businesses expanding overseas on a range of global expansion, accounting, tax, global mobility, payroll and HR matters. We also support high net worth individuals and their families seeking diversified active wealth solutions, as well as asset managers and their investors. Our hands-on approach and entrepreneurial outlook helps our clients safeguard their assets and unlock their ambitions for growth, no matter how complex their challenges might be.

CORPORATE PLUS MEMBERS

Founded in 1978, Erickson Immigration Group, P.C. (“EIG”) is a 150 member global law firm that provides comprehensive business immigration, global migration, and compliance solutions that enable companies to hire the best and brightest talent from around the world.

Headquartered in Arlington, Va., with an office in San Francisco, and a global alliance spanning more than 100 countries, EIG represents clients ranging from Fortune 50s to cutting-edge startups. Sectors represented by our firm include technology (including CRM services, e-commerce, social and online news media, online entertainment and television/movie production, FinTech, online payments), financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and universities/public school districts.

Synergy never applies a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach to furnished housing, because we believe each of our guests deserves individual attention. We pride ourselves on delivering unparalleled end-to-end accommodation solutions tailored to meet specific client objectives. From strategic, on-the-ground partnerships to superior customer service and cutting-edge technology, our restless and resilient teams will stop at nothing to ensure our guests and clients receive a remarkable experience from day one.

Since our establishment in 1999, we have built a strong foundation of expertise in a range of accommodation types including aparthotels, serviced accommodation, corporate apartments, and hotels. Today, we offer over 800,000 turn-key housing options in more than 2,000 cities across 85+ countries.

CORPORATE MEMBERS

Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms.

Grant Thornton works with a broad range of publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations. Core industries served include consumer and industrial products, financial services, not-for-profit, private equity, and technology. Grant Thornton focuses on serving dynamic organizations that pursue growth holistically — whether through revenue improvement, leadership, mission fulfillment, or innovation.

Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms.

Grant Thornton works with a broad range of publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations. Core industries served include consumer and industrial products, financial services, not-for-profit, private equity, and technology. Grant Thornton focuses on serving dynamic organizations that pursue growth holistically — whether through revenue improvement, leadership, mission fulfillment, or innovation.

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY PARTNER MEMBERS

20/20 Productions is a corporate communications production company, specializing in video, events and digital design. Founded in 1990, based in Edinburgh, Scotland and San Francisco, the company assists Clients throughout the US, Europe and beyond. 20/20 Productions Founder and CEO Andy MacKay has over 30 years experience in the presentation industry, working globally on projects for Clients ranging from start-ups to the United Nations (literally!). The success of the company is based on our creative but ‘common-sense’ approach to communications.

BDO is the brand name for BDO USA, LLP, a U.S. professional services firm providing assurance, tax, and advisory services to a wide range of publicly traded and privately held companies. For more than 100 years, BDO has provided quality service through the active involvement of experienced and committed professionals. The firm serves clients through more than 60 offices and over 650 independent alliance firm locations nationwide. As an independent Member Firm of BDO International Limited, BDO serves multi-national clients through a global network of more than 80,000 people working out of nearly 1,600 offices across 162 countries and territories.

Bia Mindset is a coaching and consulting firm headquartered in San Francisco with a network of worldwide performance coaches and associates that help organizations develop the skills and mindset of their people, to achieve their full potential and deliver high performance.

Whether you’re looking to develop your leadership capability, expand your talent pipeline or implement cultural change, Bia Mindset can support you. We connect your people to your purpose and values, resulting in a more engaged, adaptable, and focused organization.

Our core areas of expertise are Leadership & Management, Performance Coaching, Change & Transitions, Resilience and Company Cultures.

IDA Ireland is Ireland’s inward promotion agency. We partner with established companies, both large and small, working with them every step of the way to achieve a smooth, fast and successful set-up of their operations in Ireland. IDA Ireland’s services to clients are free of charge and confidential and we currently support over 1,600 client companies with operations in Ireland.

For over 70 years Ireland has attracted MNCs from all over the globe and we continue to attract the best companies in the world due to our consistent pro-business policies, unwavering commitment to EU membership, our industry and innovation clusters and highly educated workforce.

Website

Our lawyers handle both contentious and non-contentious matters, and provide a range of specialist legal services, for many industry sectors including insurance and reinsurance, aviation, banking and finance, construction and engineering, healthcare, life sciences, marine, public sector, rail, real estate, retail, shipping and international trade, sport and leisure, transport and logistics and travel and tourism. But we have particular expertise in litigation and dispute resolution, especially in defending insurance and liability claims.

At Landsea Homes, we believe that all of the expertise, innovation and care that go into designing and building your new home should be felt and sensed at first sight, and for decades to come. The harmony between the outside environment, and the inside livability. The form, and the function. The beauty, and the brains. From the moment you enter, it should feel like a celebration of life and space.

Living in your element, therefore, is what happens when your home and its surroundings change the way you live, work and play.

Landsea Homes was named the 2022 winner of the prestigious Builder of the Year award, presented by BUILDER magazine, in recognition of a historical year of transformation.

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

Founded in 1863, our society joins people who share a connection with Scotland in a community and a bond of culture and benevolent purpose, the latter best expressed in our motto:

“OUR AIN ILLS HAE STRENGTH TO BEAR ANITHER’S AYE HAE HEART TO FEEL”

Relief to people with Scottish origins, who are in distress remains an important function for us. Additionally, the Society gives financial support to Scottish cultural organizations in Northern America, such as Bagpipe Bands, Fiddling Schools, Scottish Country Dancing, and other cultural artists and musicians. Lastly, the Society manages a robust scholarship fund for students studying in Scotland or Northern California.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Malcolm Booth

Keith Cotterill

Kelly Ducourty

Robin Hart

Steven Minchen

Wallace Poulter

Jacqueline Witter

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS

Andrew Jack

Andrea Saliba

Greg Tinker

One of the benefits of membership in the BABC Northern California is the opportunity to access Member-to-Member-Only special offers and hot deals.

To learn how to access codes and instructions, log in to your BABC Account and click on the Member-to-Member Deals button.

To take advantage of these Member-to-Member offers, join the BABC today to obtain the discount code. Click here to learn more about membership.