5 Key Events for GCs to Attend in the Year Ahead

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of nearly all in-person professional events in 2020 and 2021, but early data suggests that we’re seeing a gradual rebound in 2022. The B2B Events Industry Outlook survey found that 50% of professional service providers expect to increase their participation at in-person events in 2022 and 53% project an increase in attendance at their industry’s key events this year.

“Although the B2B event industry may not make a full recovery in 2022, the pressures of the last two years may have created an industry that is both more resilient and more efficient,” says the Event Manager Blog.

Professional conferences in the legal industry have long been valued opportunities for attending educational sessions, reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and networking with business associates in an informal atmosphere that is more relaxed than conference rooms or Zoom calls.

And while many people are understandably still hesitant about sitting in crowded ballrooms or attending cocktail receptions, those who are ready to return to in-person conferences are appreciating them in a new way in 2022.

“Getting out there, whether in-person or virtually, is important now more than ever,” writes Renwei Chung, columnist at Above the Law. Chung notes that legal professionals “need to understand the marketplace, how the industry is changing and the power of human connection” now that we’re all operating in the newly decentralized working environment.

For today’s in-house counsel, professional events can not only help you stay on top your own continuing legal education requirements, but also: Keep pace with changing regulations and what they mean for your company; Dig into timely corporate legal challenges with practical learning sessions; Hear from legal industry thought leaders; and Exchange ideas with colleagues at other corporate legal departments.

So if you’re ready to get back to live conferences, here are five key events for GCs to attend in the year ahead:

IAPP Global Privacy Summit (April 10-13, Washington D.C.)

The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) will return to live events with a four-day conference that will tackle groundbreaking developments in privacy and data protection. The opening general session will feature an address by bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell.

TechGC Fullstack GC Conference (May 4-6, San Francisco)

TechGC, a private group of more than 2,000 GCs from leading venture capital firms and venture-backed tech companies, will focus this conference on lessons in leadership that help GCs establish relationships externally and internally. There will be multiple industry-specific breakouts on topics that are relevant to each GC.

CLOC Global Institute (May 9-12, Las Vegas)

The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) has emerged in the past decade as the leading organization dedicated to transforming the business and practice of law. CLOC’s annual flagship event returns to its live in-person format this year for a series of workshops and sessions related to legal operations, technology and innovation.

ACC Annual Meeting (October 23-26, Las Vegas)

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is the world’s largest community of in-house counsel, serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations and other private sector organizations. The ACC Annual Meeting is the largest annual gathering of in-house counsel from around the world, and the 2022 event will be offered as both an in-person and virtual conference.

Legalweek (2023 dates TBA, New York)

Legalweek is one week when thousands of legal professionals gather to network with their peers, dive deeper into their professional development, and explore topics and strategies tailored specifically to their roles. The conference returned to an in-person event in 2022 and is expected to feature new session formats at the 2023 live event.

Attending legal conferences allows you to further your legal education, network, and stay updated on legal technology. Today’s in-house counsel must have fast access to the information they need to shape legal strategy and adapt to changing circumstances. Lexis+® General Counsel Suite provides in-house counsel with a vast collection of legal resources, breaking business and legal news, and practical guidance content that includes practice notes, templates and checklists. It is an all-in-one information resource designed for the modern GC.

Learn more about how General Counsel Suite helps you manage today and anticipate tomorrow by signing up for a free trial.