Corporate Counsel Exchange 2010 - Optimising Legal Spend Management Strategies

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Published in European GC Newsletter - January 2010

 

 

Following on from its success in The Hague, Netherlands, last October– which united more than 150 general counsel, law firm partners, and solution providers to the profession - Corporate Counsel Exchange has not even waited a full year before resurfacing to take a second bite at the ‘pricing’ cherry. Such was the success, organisers IQPC Exchange immediately decided on a twice-yearly format.

Delegates who spent two days in The Hague examining the relationship crisis, budget cuts and streamlining of in-house teams, are already registering for the Brussels conference in April to hear speakers including Dr Thomas Werlen, of pharmaceutical giant Novartis. Dr. Werlen will be discussing cost cutting initiatives and new ways for GC’s to demonstrate value, improve productivity and maintain a good quality of service on restricted and diminishing budgets. Through a panel discussion and three case studies, the session will give practical advice on spend management methods and effective implementation. Enhanced EU regulations that have arisen due to the economy also present financial challenges. Mark Elliott, Global General Counsel, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Global Commodities will be presenting on this topic and will discuss how to internalise upcoming regulations in the legal department. Malcolm Wood, General Counsel, Standard Life Insurance, will be presenting on legal-to-business alignment, a strategy that will be instrumental to the future of the legal department. Delegates will also hear from Robin Saphra, General Counsel and Commercial and Regulatory Director, Colt Telecom Group and Dominique Golsong, Chief Legal Officer EMEA,Goodyear Dunlop.

The key differentiators of the Corporate Counsel Exchange are its one-on-one meetings between delegates and solution providers, the exclusively senior delegation and special sessions entitled ‘BrainWeave’, which focus on in-depth knowledge absorption in 50 minute periods between the main presentations and debates. They are performed ‘in the round’ style and encourage audience participation. At the first conference in The Hague most delegates reported highly favourable reactions, particularly as so much was learned in a short period of time. Many of the sessions were particularly animated with debate often originating from the floor. And as always, networking opportunities were frequent given that delegates were housed in the same hotel.