Please join us for an interesting afternoon of CLE and networking led by four of our brilliant women attorneys.

Each of these accomplished attorneys will be presenting on current hot topics:

Shanisha Smith

Creating and Maintaining Your Organization’s Environmental, Social, and Governance Story

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a business approach that produces longstanding value by controlling risks and capitalizing on opportunities associated with environmental and socioeconomic issues. The rise of socially conscious investors is not just a philanthropic trend. With increased accountability and liability for organizations associated with environmental, social and governance matters, organizations that fail to deliver value beyond compliance face increased legal risk as well as financial and reputational consequences. Without an increased focus on ESG, organizational projects and goals will not reach the social acceptance that is required to become sustainable, and organizations will not be able to deliver value to their shareholders. Organizations need a pragmatic business response which includes staying on top of the evolving ESG landscape, taking control of the ESG narrative, strengthening sustainability efforts by identifying management and data gaps, understanding stakeholder engagement and activism, and seizing opportunities to “shine” among peers and competitors. This CLE presentation will hone in on the benefits of building your own organization’s ESG story that aligns with its history, business strategy and risk management.

Lana Muranovic

Regulatory (CFIUS) Review of Foreign Investment in the United States

In circumstances in which foreign persons, including entities, are contemplating buying or making an investment in a U.S. business, it is not only prudent, but oftentimes necessary, to consider whether the contemplated transaction will be subject to the purview of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS").  CFIUS is a U.S. government interagency committee with broad jurisdiction to review foreign investment into a U.S. business for national security concerns.  If CFIUS deems that a transaction poses a risk to U.S. national security, CFIUS may, in worst case scenarios, recommend to the President to block or unwind the investment.  Join us for a discussion relating to the broad and powerful jurisdiction of CFIUS to review and affect investments by foreign entities and persons in U.S. businesses.  We will provide an overview of CFIUS, discuss the types of foreign investments into U.S. businesses that are subject to a mandatory filing as well as those related to which a voluntary filing is advisable, and review CFIUS filing options and processes.

Lynn Sessions

What Every In-House Attorney Needs to Know About Ransomware

Discussion of the legal and operational challenges when a ransomware attack takes place regardless of industry.  There are operational obligations that are paramount in getting a company functioning but legal obligations overlay the operations as well.  I will discuss best practices for ransomware response, engaging vendors and preserving privilege, and legal pitfalls companies face following a ransomware attack.

Ashlee Grant

Employment Law Updates that Employers Should Take into Consideration as They Begin to Reopen Their Offices

A global pandemic, embracing remote work, new administration, cultural uprisings and unrest across the country, influential court decisions, and new state laws…a lot has happened in the past 18 months. This CLE will touch upon many of the significant updates in various areas of employment law that employers should take into consideration as they begin to reopen their offices and employees return back to work.

After the CLE portion of the event, we will enjoy a cocktail class led by Houston mixologist Sean Beck, followed by time for networking.