[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]With the beginning of a new year, ECLA will venture into a new and exciting territory by organising an exclusive technology conference for in-house counsel: Legal Disruption: Innovation, Technology, Collaboration. The event, taking place on 14 February in Dublin, will concentrate on the usage of legal technology in the legal departments and present how companies of all sizes are implementing various solutions, in order to bring their legal departments into the modern era.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]Nowadays, companies and their respective legal departments face two major challenges that must be overcome in order to stay viable and competitive – globalisation and regulation. The former requires companies to adapt to a changing market, requiring in-house counsels to be knowledgeable of an increasing variety of legal issues, in addition to being aware of country-specific factors. These can range from cultural aspects to specific legal requirements that companies must adhere to in order to function at a certain market. The latter requires companies to stay in tune with current developments as well as actively accompany them wherever possible.

This leads to an increase in complexity – a level that existing structures in legal departments can hardly handle. Modern approaches can change the outlook of a company immensely, making them not only more efficient but leaving more valuable time for in-house counsel to focus on creative tasks and issues that require human input.

ECLA’s Legal Disruption conference will focus on a variety of themes, selected to reflect issues that in-house counsel face in their professional capacity. It will cover the usage of fresh approaches in legal departments, such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and permissioned blockchain, but also shine light on more established solutions, such as legal matter management systems, automated processes, smart contracts, and compliance tools. The event will encompass a whole approach to a modern legal department, showcasing what tasks can be delegated to software solutions and what solutions can disrupt the day-to-day routine of a company lawyer completely. This gives the audience the possibility to assess what elements could be incorporated into their own professional lives and made educated selections when modernising their own departments.

Legal Disruption will present a diverse set of top-class speakers and experts in their field. It will host in-house counsel from both SME’s and large corporations, such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, McDonalds, and Anheuser-Busch, bringing their extensive experience into Dublin to reflect how modern solutions are effectively being used. The audience can also hear from solution providers, who will give detailed insight into their approach, establishing how their solutions aim to ease the life of company lawyers. Together with the active engagement of participants, the conference will be the perfect opportunity to share best practices, learn about new approaches and excel in creating a more efficient and sustainable future in legal departments.

Legal Disruption: Innovation, Technology, Collaboration will take place on 14 February at the Gibson Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. We invite all in-house counsel to come and participate, meet and network with fellow peers facing similar issues in their own professional lives and return to their work with innovative ideas, gathered from Legal Disruption.

The programme for Legal Disruption is accessible at https://ecla.martenmannis.eu.online/events/legal-disruption-2019/

Save the date![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]On 9 November, The European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA) held its 38th General Assembly at the Kempinski Hotel Bristol in Berlin, Germany. Hosted biannually, the highlights of the General Assembly include the re-election of Jonathan Marsh as President of ECLA and Giovanni Cerutti as Treasurer of ECLA, respectively, and the admission of representatives from Slovenia as ECLA’s 20th member association.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]Attendees of the General Assembly met on the previous evening, joining a dinner reception at the Museum für Naturkunde, hosted by one of the two German member associations “Arbeitgemeinschaft der Syndikus Anwälte im Deutschen Anwaltverein (DAV)”. Surrounded by bones and fragments of dinosaurs was truly a sight to behold. The reception enabled representatives of national member associations to connect with German company lawyers and hear what issues they regard as essential on a national level. We would once again extend our warmest welcome to the DAV for inviting and hosting us during our stay in Berlin.

The 38th General Assembly started with Jonathan Marsh, President of ECLA, congratulating Dr. Clarissa Freundorfer for being elected as the President of Company Lawyers at DAV the day before. This was followed by a unanimous re-election of Jonathan Marsh and Giovanni Cerutti as President and Treasurer of ECLA, respectively. Both members of the executive board are looking forward to further excel ECLA’s activities in the upcoming two-year-terms that both will serve.

Another major development during the General Assembly was the admission of ECLA’s 20th national member association – Sekcija korporacijskih pravnikov Slovenije from Slovenia was unanimously admitted as ECLA’s newest member association. Represented by Elma Buljko and Ana Jasna Gamulin, we are certain that ECLA has gained yet another invaluable member association, solidifying our mission in giving company lawyers a voice on a European level and sharing best practices throughout the continent.

ECLA also organised a workshop for all participants in the General Assembly, with the central topic being legal professional privilege. Based on a comprehensive survey ECLA conducted in Fall 2018, member associations were divided on the basis of their national recognition of legal professional privilege for company lawyers.

The 38th General Assembly was a great success – a unanimous re-election of the President and Treasurer and a unanimous admission of a new member association – with more on the horizon – shows that ECLA has inherent value for national member associations and will continue organising exciting events and workshops in 2019. The 39th General Assembly will take place on 22-24 May in Brussels.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Impressions

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