ACC Spotlights Outstanding Leadership Contributions of the Year

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- The Association of Corporate Counsel issued the following news release:

The Association of Corporate Counsel(ACC), (http://www.acc.com/) a global bar association representing more than 33,000 in-house lawyers employed by more than 10,000 organizations in 85 countries, announced members and committees who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service and commitment to the in-house counsel community this week during the 2013 ACC Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.

Recognized by the global organization in their respective categories, recipients exhibit unparalleled commitment to providing opportunities for ACC member involvement, strategic development, educational programs, pro bono services and other projects.

"ACC's committees, members and supporters play an integral role in advancing ACC's strategic plan," said Veta T. Richardson, president and CEO of ACC. "This year's award recipients have excelled in delivering forums where members can exchange ideas and expertise, while also strengthening ACC as a trusted resource for the in-house community."

The 2013 winners, presented at the Annual Meeting Leadership Dinner, are as follows:

Robert I. Townsend, Jr. Member of the Year Award: Under Vincent A. Castiglione's leadership as former Greater New York Chapter President, the chapter retained more than 90 percent of its members, penetrated new membership channels, diversified program offerings and strengthened organizational structure to ensure healthy board succession. Castiglione now serves as vice chair of the ACC Litigation Committee.

Matthew J. Whitehead, II Diversity Award: Led by David Allgood, executive vice president, general counsel and chair of ACC's Board of Directors, the Royal Bank of Canada General Counsel Group launched a variety of diversity and inclusion programs, such as a student internship program for foreign-trained lawyers and the "Day of Pink Challenge," an international day opposing all bullying and discrimination.Hiring practices requiring women and racialized minorities to be shortlisted for positions have resulted in a General Counsel Group in North America that is comprised of 71 percent women and 21 percent racialized minorities. In addition, 4 percent of the Canadian law department members are persons with disabilities.

ACC Corporate Pro Bono Award:In 2013, 19 TE Connectivity Ltd. attorneys and law clerks volunteered in a series of five separate events to offer pro bono legal aid to 34 small business owners and nonprofit organizations. Plus, 46 law department employees partnered with the Wills for Heroes Foundation to help 108 first responders and their spouses or partners receive pro bono estate planning advice over a series of three separate events.

Jonathan S. Silber Committee Member of the Year Award:As Chair of the ACC Small Law Department Committee, Nicolle Schippers has been instrumental in driving and accomplishing many of its 2013 goals. Schippers increased attendance at monthly virtual meetings, expanded volunteer opportunities for committee members and developed long-term plans for future leadership.

Outstanding Large/Small Committee of the Year Award: In the large committee category, the ACC Employment & Labor Committee has contributed eight CLE/CPD accredited webcasts, six ACC Docket articles and many Quick References in 2013. The ACC Employment & Labor Committee has also been a leader in member engagement, with some of the most active eGroups and monthly roundtable sessions.

In the small committee category, the ACC Sports & Entertainment Committee has provided peer-to-peer support and quality resources to the overall membership. In 2013, the committee featured an active eGroup forum and engaged members on the chapter level, leading to a 73 percent increase in monthly call attendance and increased membership of more than 40 percent.

Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award (Large/Medium/Small): The Greater New York Chapter and Southern California (ACC-SoCal) Chapter (representing more than 1,600 and 1,500 members respectively) were this year's winners of the large category for Outstanding Chapter of the Year. The Greater New York Chapter exceeded members' expectations by focusing membership campaigns on areas that have been historically under-represented and reinforcing the chapter's brand as a definitive voice of the in-house counsel in New York. ACC-SoCal has made great strides towards increasing its membership base and diversifying its board of directors, as well as presenting over 80 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) programs.

Recognized in the medium Chapter of the Year category, the Wisconsin Chapter (representing more than 475 members) increased its continuing education opportunities from twice a year to almost monthly. The chapter also created an organized advocacy effort and committee focused on meeting the needs of Wisconsin in-house counsel and offered four scholarships to future in-house attorneys to perform pro bono work.

The South/Central Texas Chapter (representing more than 200 members) is this year's small Chapter of the Year winner. The chapter boosted its visibility to in-house counsel in the region and succeeded in raising awareness among major corporations, law firms, bar organizations, the judiciary and state and local politicians. The chapter's board of directors shares the goal of making members and sponsors an integral part of the group.

Membership Excellence Award (Large/Medium/Small): Through community-building efforts, the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMACCA) Chapter (representing over 2,000 members) has developed a strong network of large law memberships and significantly increased exposure of ACC membership benefits and programs.

Alongside the WMACCA Chapter, the Chicago Chapter (representing more than 1,900 members) was also a winner of this year's large category. The Chicago Chapter revamped a multi-faceted approach it developed six years ago to respond to the evolving legal landscape. To achieve their goals, the Membership Committee engaged with prospective, current and lapsed members in a variety of innovative ways.

The Michigan Chapter, which represents more than 500 members, focused on retaining and recruiting members in 2013, especially in a state where CLE credits are not required. Members were highly engaged in the chapter's monthly CLE programs, such as the 2013 State of the Law Program, Spring Social Program and Annual Golf Outing.

To expand its membership base, the Central Florida Chapter (representing more than 200 members and winner of this year's small category) personally contacted ACC members at companies based in the region to discuss the value of an ACC membership. ACC headquarters supported the chapter's efforts by arranging prospective and retention visits with large law departments and their operations staffs.

For additional information about ACC's awards, visit www.acc.com/awards.

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