Inside 2Q2021 2 ..... Biden-Harris Administration’s 9 ..... New Board Member Spotlight First 100 Days Expose Priorities, Lay 10... New and Returning Members Groundwork For New Policies 12... Positively Legal: The Power of Unfocus 7 ..... In Case You Missed It 13... ACC News 7 ..... 2021 Upcoming ACCGP Events 15... #bestIHCCever Did Not Disappoint! 8 ..... Key Considerations If the World Trade Organization Decides to Waive 16... Chapter Leadership IP Rights for COVID-19 Vaccines FOCUS A Message From the President Michael Eckhardt In-Transition Membership The first quarter of initial Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and 2021 was filled with Belonging vision and mission statement, If you are a member who is in transition, great substantive which we will share on our website in the take advantage of the opportunity to and social program- coming months. continue your membership AT NO ming and strong COST. ACC will waive dues for existing Our sponsors hosted over 15 substantive attendance from members for up to one year, and offer CLE programs in the first quarter, includ- the Chapter’s 1,650 a reduced membership rate for up ing our 3rd Annual GC/CLO Summit, with plus members. We a focus on Diversity and Inclusion. Our to an additional two years if you are cannot thank our Michael J. Eckhardt sponsors from Cozen O’Connor, Faegre displaced but actively seeking a new in- volunteer practice SVP, Chief Risk Officer, Drinker and Dechert led discussions with house position. [In-Transition/Retired General Counsel & and social chairs over 70 General Counsel and Chief Legal Application] For more information Secretary enough for all the Officers on topics including diversity in about In-Transition Membership, please Wawa, Inc. time they, along the Boardroom, compliance efforts related visit: https://www.acc.com/membership/ with our Chapter to diversity, equity and inclusion, and Administrators, Chris Stewart and Joanne become-a-member/in-transition-member. the positive impact of diverse teams in Ray, and sponsors put into planning and litigation and regulatory investigations. delivering the events. Below are some of We concluded the Summit with a social the highlights since January. Retired hour and the Chapter donated $3,000 The Chapter’s Board kicked off the year in to the Chapter’s Diversity Internship Membership January with a special session led by our Program. Our Meet Your Counterparts Recently retired ACC members may friends from Dechert where we discussed (MYC) events hosted by Troutman continue their membership at a reduced the Chapter’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Pepper, Stevens & Lee and Hogan Lovells rate of $95 annually. You can email and Belonging journey. Dechert litigation were attended by over 200 members, [email protected] to request an partner, Sozi Tulante, and Chief Diversity, and notably the Stevens & Lee MYC in Equity and Inclusion Officer, Satra Samp- February celebrated Black History Month invoice for this great rate, or submit son-Arokium, led a workshop as to the by learning how to cook with spices. the In-Transition/Retired Application, characteristics of an inclusive leader and We thank Troutman Pepper and Hogan and be sure to select the RETIRED presented case studies on sound judgment Lovells for providing attendees with wine option. For more information about and good business decisions. The Chap- for the wine tasting events. We are in Retired Membership, please visit: https:// ter’s leadership looks forward to continu- the final phases of matching 19 diversity www.acc.com/membership/become-a- ing the conversation as to how the Chapter interns with 18 member companies for the member/retired-member. can promote and advance the goals of Chapter’s 13th annual Diversity Summer diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging Internship Program. for the benefit of the Chapter’s members, If you have questions, please The IHCC Committee provided two full sponsors, the legal profession, and the contact ACC’s membership days of substantive and social program- greater Philadelphia community. On this department at ming, including a keynote session from front, the Chapter’s leadership is also in 202.293.4103, ext. 360 or the final phases of creating the Chapter’s at [email protected]. continued on page 2 continued from page 1 Adam Grant. All attendees will receive showed that 70% of our members prefer We continue to develop plans to engage Adam’s new book, Think Again: The the virtual CLE option – and this does our members in different ways, in both Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know not appear likely to change unless the virtual and in person environments, as well as other great items from our relevant state bar associations re-institute reaching out to new members, hosting sponsors in a “swag” box to be received the prior virtual CLE limitations. This quarterly new member meetings and plan- after the IHCC. The IHCC featured a result is not surprising based on the cur- ning “meet your leadership” type events lunch, “The Art of the Lunch” with the rent remote work situation of many of our throughout the remainder of the year. Our Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for members. Interestingly, 60% of members goal is to create more touchpoints for our the Arts (PVLA) and The Philadelphia also said they would like to see a mixture members to meet with and get to better Dance Company. This lunch was an of in-person and virtual CLE presenta- know the Chapter’s leadership. exciting mix of performing arts, pro bono tions. In-person CLE events, however, Our Board of Directors and Officers are and legal education. The performance may be a more difficult proposition than here to serve you—we welcome your feed- was followed by remarks from Joan Myers an in-person social event, because almost back, your ideas, your input, and most of Brown, the founder of Philadanco! and half of our surveyed members prefer any all your involvement. You can reach me nationally-renowned icon and visionary in-person event to be held outside, which directly at [email protected] leader in African-American dance. This adds an additional complication to the or 610.358.8044. We look forward to see- 2nd virtual IHCC had over 800 members CLE presentation. Based on the survey, ing you (virtually and in person) and we in attendance! we believe that attendance at in-person sincerely hope you will take full advantage MYC events may be substantially similar Due to COVID restrictions, we found it of the many benefits and become actively to in-person MYC events before the pan- necessary to postpone the Spring Fling, engaged in the wonderful opportunities demic began. We hosted our first in-per- which was scheduled to take place in that our Chapter has planned as we con- son event since March 2020 on May 20th early May. We continue to monitor CDC tinue to move through 2021! with a Meet Your Counterparts/Network- guidance and our members’ comfort level ing Cocktail Reception at Estia in Radnor. Warmest regards, with in-person events and mitigation It was hosted by Ogeltree Deakins and Michael Eckhardt measures such as mask wearing and social there were 50 members in attendance. President distancing. Thank you for participating ACC Greater Philadelphia in the recent member survey. The survey Biden-Harris Administration’s First 100 Days Expose Priorities, Lay Groundwork For New Policies US President Joseph Biden and Vice posals, starting with the American Rescue CLIMATE CHANGE: President Kamala Harris have consistently Plan of 2021 and continuing through the ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY framed their policies with what they call release of the proposed American Jobs The Biden-Harris administration has set the four major “crises” facing the nation: Plan (focusing on infrastructure) on its sights on an ambitious environmental COVID-19, the economy, climate, and March 31, 2021, and the framework of policy agenda, focusing on climate change inequity. Many of the most important the American Families Plan on April 28, and environmental justice as key initia- executive actions and policy proposals 2021. tives, and intends to implement its agenda during the first 100 days of the Biden-Har- While 100 days of a 1,094-day term of through an “all of government” approach. ris administration, whether by legislative office is in many respects an artifice, it The all-of-government strategy employs a proposal, executive order, rulemaking, or historically serves as a point at which coordinated, multi-department, multi- other policy vehicle, have been framed as we take measure of performance. The agency approach to address particularly an attempt to address one or more of these following recap is a look back at some of complex problems. four policy concerns, and most address the more wide-reaching and impactful more than one. The administration’s Executive Order on (or in some cases, potentially impact- Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Day 1 of the administration started with a ful) executive orders, legislative actions, Abroad established three working groups series of executive orders addressing mat- policy proposals, and other developments at the core of the all-of-government strat- ters within the president’s direct authority during the first phase of the Biden-Harris egy. They bring together cabinet members and then continued on to legislative pro- administration’s term. and people in other key positions across continued on page 3 2 Greater Philadelphia Chapter FOCUS 2Q21 continued from page 2 numerous federal agencies and depart- and the Earth Day climate change summit solar panels and wind-related materi- ments to address climate change, envi- that brought together world leaders to als in the United States to encourage a ronmental justice, and related economic share how they are addressing climate migration from purchasing those mate- revitalization issues.