Inside 3Q2019 2 ..... The Modern Partnership: In-house and Outside Counsel 3 ..... ACC News 4 ..... 2019 ACC Board of Directors 4 ..... Notice to ACC Members Regarding 2020 Proposed Slate of Officers 5 ..... ACC Luncheon Dates 5 ..... Upcoming Events 7 ..... Ethics Follies 8 ..... Partnership/LLC Audit Rules 10 ... Welcome New Members! 11.... Past Events 12.... Chapter Leadership FOCUS About Your ACC South/Central Texas Chapter ACC South/Central Texas IS: • Made up of members who represent the following diverse companies: Acelity Goodman Koontz PETCO Animal Southwest A professional organization of nearly 200 American Networks, Inc. Corporation Supplies, Inc. Research Institute members who serve as in-house counsel Trucking & Government Lewis Energy Propel Financial TaskUs, Inc. for nearly 80 area companies, with Transportation Personnel Mutual Group Services TechRadium, Inc Insurance Life Insurance Liberty Oilfield Rackspace approximately 40 members serving as Company, RRG Company Tower Life Services Hosting, Inc. Insurance General Counsel. Andeavor H- E- B Grocery Life Healthcare Randolph- Company Company Argo Group US Partners Brooks Federal Travelers • The leading source of continuing legal BeiGene, Ltd. Harland Clarke Lone Star Credit Union Holdings Corp. Trinity University education, legal and business eth- BP America Inc. Bakery Inc. Rush Enterprises HEB Grocery United Allergy ics awareness, pro bono activities and C.H. Guenther Lumin Health, San Antonio Services Company, LP LLC Board of networking opportunities for in-house & Son, Inc. United Services Howard Energy Marathon Oil REALTORS CalTex Protective Partners Automobile counsel in San Antonio and South Texas. Coatings, Inc. Company San Antonio Association iHeartMedia, Inc. Mesilla Valley Housing Authority • Focused on meeting the unique, profes- CaptureRx University of the InGenesis, Inc. Transportation Scantron Incarnate Word CeloNova Corporation sional needs of attorneys who practice Biosciences, Inc. Innotech Services Mission City USAA Company Management, Inc. Sea Island in the legal departments of corpora- Chase Manhattan Development USAA Real Bank InterLinc Mission Pharmacal Estate Company tions. Mortgage Company Company Chicago Title Services, LLC Security Service UTSA of Texas, LLC MUY Brands, LLC • An award-winning chapter, having been Investors Title Federal Credit Valero Energy CPS Energy National Investors Union Corporation awarded ACC’s Chapter of the Year on Insurance Title Insurance numerous occasions and recently being Diebold, Inc. Company Company Silotech VP Racing Group, Inc. Fuels, Inc. recognized under ACC’s new award DPT James Avery NatureSweet Laboratories, Ltd. Craftsman, Inc. South Texas Whataburger NuStar system as a “Gold Level Chapter of Jordan Foster Money Restaurants, LLC Frost Bank Energy L.P. Management, Ltd. Distinction” and being awarded ACC’s Construction, Zachry Group Frozen Beverage LLC OCI Enterprises Southwest distinguished “Innovative Program- Dispensers Inc. Business Zachry Kinetic Concepts, Industrial, Inc. ming” award for Ethics Follies®. Genesis Inc., an Acelity Packers Sanitation Corporation Networks Company Services, Inc. The Modern Partnership: In-house and Outside Counsel By Cathy Landman and Margo Wolf O’Donnell As lawyers take on increasingly sophisticated business advisor roles in today’s marketplace, the partnership between in-house and outside counsel has become more important than ever. And while every lawyer wants to provide the best possible service to the client, the practical steps for achieving outstanding service in this context are not always clear. Drawing on our shared experience, we have identified four key steps lawyers on both sides of this relationship can take to help them build their credibility and deliver solutions that advance their business. 1. Develop a commercial point 2. Educate each other and Always be thinking not just about of view, and base the legal constantly reflect on what you communication between the inside and strategy on business goals are learning outside teams, but also how to enable the So many skilled lawyers bring a It is crucial for both sides of this in-house team to present ideas to their nuanced understanding of the law to partnership to make time to educate internal clients, the business leaders. each other — for the outside counsel to their work, but when it is time to apply 3. Build a shared roadmap that educate the client on the most pressing that knowledge and counsel to the can evolve, and demonstrate legal issues they may face, and for the company’s business strategy, they have good judgment difficulty bridging the divide between in-house team to educate the outside the worlds of law and business. The key counsel on how their business works. To The in-house counsel is continuously to becoming a valued business advisor facilitate communication that extends juggling big priorities with the day to and in-house lawyer is understanding beyond just the discovery phase, develop day responsibilities of the job. The best not just the legal risks for the company a work process that includes shared outside counselors help their clients on a given matter, but also the interplay folders, files, timelines, and project anticipate what is on the horizon and between those risks and the company’s plans, and encourage both teams to determine whether the current approach larger business goals. check in regularly. and practices will put the company on the right trajectory. In a legal practice, that means having Designate time for reflection at important a conversation early on to ensure an milestones throughout the project so that Timeliness is an important factor in understanding of the desired result. And the in-house and outside teams may ask building a workable roadmap. Good that conversation needs to continue as of themselves and each other what they business advisors understand how to a matter unfolds and new information have learned and how it might alter the foreshadow what is to come so business comes to light. goals or process going forward. Finally, leaders have time to digest information make sure both teams are speaking the and then decide. The partnership also An understanding of what the company same language by using the right tools depends on crystal clear communication is trying to achieve — where they are and a shared vocabulary. and a willingness to use technological now and where they want to be — should tools to improve efficiency. drive the legal strategy and lead you While written word is the order within to the legal remedy that furthers those law firms, the business community Because skillful navigation involves goals. That may mean litigating or not, tends to rely on tools like PowerPoint looking both at your feet and the path finding a resolution outside of litigation, for communication. Sometimes ahead, teams must constantly be asking or coming at the problem from another translating a lengthy document into what’s coming next, what’s the precedent angle, such as a new approach to a deal a more visual mode can facilitate if we do X, and what are the potential or contractual language. understanding and even yield creative, costs and benefits? This is where creative new solutions to the problem. problem solvers can demonstrate significant value. Nothing beats good continued on page 3 2 South Central Texas Chapter FOCUS 3Q19 continued from page 2 judgment, a great strategy, and a The in-house counsel can create these We need both perspectives to create thoughtful plan to execute it. connections by inviting everyone on innovative legal strategies. By embracing the team to an on-site visit to learn the the key steps we have outlined above, 4. Move beyond a transactional business and understand the goals of lawyers can build a thriving, long-lasting mindset and nurture the the project. This is an investment in the inside-outside partnership that yields relationship outside team, which is just an extension creative solutions for the company and its Good client service cannot be merely of the in-house team, and the work outside partners. transactional, so outside counsel can will be more efficient and effective if Authors: truly demonstrate their worth by everyone works together as one entity. providing value outside the billable The complex legal matters businesses Cathy Landman is the chief legal and human hours. That means making time to learn face today require that everyone is on resources officer at Corelle Brands. their client’s business, conduct on-site board and invested in achieving the Margo Wolf O’Donnell is the partner and visits, and make themselves available as optimal outcome. co-chair of the labor and employment practice group at Benesch. a resource. It’s also important for other In-house and outside counsel see legal members of the outside team beyond the and business challenges through distinct billing partner — including associates lenses that are shaped by their respective and paralegals — to take ownership of training and approach to problems. the work. ACC News 2019 ACC Annual Meeting: Rates Drive Success with Business In-house Counsel Certified (ICC) Increase after September 25 Education for In-house Counsel Designation Mark your calendars for October 27-30 To become a trusted advisor for business If you are an in-house lawyer seeking to in Phoenix, AZ for the 2019 world’s executives, it’s imperative for in-house become proficient in the essential skills largest event on in-house counsel. Earn counsel to understand the business identified as critical to an in-house legal up to a year's worth of CLEs, get the operations of your company. Attend career, the In-house Counsel Certified essential knowledge and insights you business education courses offered by (ICC) designation is precisely what you need to navigate today's increasingly ACC and the Boston University Questrom need. To be eligible for the designation, complex business environment, and make School of Business to learn critical business you’ll need to participate in the ACC meaningful connections with your in-house disciplines and earn valuable CLE credits: In-house Counsel Certification Program, peers from around the globe.