The New England Corporate Counsel Association, Inc. (NECCA) celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala reception and dinner on June 2, following its final seminar of the year and annual membership meeting.

New Board Of Directors And Officers

The newly elected members of NECCA’s Board of Directors for the 2004-2005 membership year are: Thomas Bockhorst (Welch Foods); Emmanuel Crespo; Andrew D’Amico; Steve Gans (NE Mobile Book Fair/Jessica’s Biscuit); Nancy Hanley (BJ’s Wholesale Club); Emily Maitin (The Nelson Companies); Peter Markman (Progress Software); Karen Mathiasen (Law Offices of Karen Mathiasen); Ann McCauley (TJX Companies); Kenneth Reisman (Law Offices of Kenneth Reisman); Patricia Randall (Matritech); June Roberts; Susan Scott (Premier Insurance); and Mark Thurber.

The following will serve as NECCA’s officers for 2004-2005: President – Mark Thurber; Vice President – Thomas Bockhorst; Treasurer – Peter Markman; Clerk – Nancy Hanley; Assistant Treasurer – Ann McCauley; Assistant Clerk – Karen Mathiasen; and Seminar Chair – Patricia Randall.

From its modest beginning of seven lawyers meeting informally during 1979 for lunch and discussing issues relevant to corporate counsel, NECCA has grown to approximately 160 members representing over 100 different companies. Membership in NECCA is open to attorneys employed as in-house counsel or providing legal services to one or more companies (but not employed by, or principal of, a law firm). Once a member, as long as you pay your dues, you may continue your membership in NECCA even if your status as corporate counsel changes.

NECCA meets September through June, usually on the first Wednesday of the month, for a two-hour seminar on topics of interest to corporate counsel, presented by experts on the topic, followed by a social break and then a luncheon, during which members have an opportunity to socialize, network, ask additional questions of the seminar speaker(s) or continue discussion informally among themselves. After the luncheon, NECCA offers a career services roundtable for members and nonmembers.

Seminars

Seminars during the 2003-2004 year included the following topics as they specifically relate to in-house counsel: employment law update; attorney client privilege; trademarks, trade dress and copyright; ethical and collaborative negotiations to improve the bottom line; preparing for unexpected corporate crises and business interruption; advertising and promotion law; executive compensation and employee benefits; insolvency and bankruptcy law; and intellectual property update.

Seminars planned for the 2004-2005 year, to begin September 2004, will include the following topics: employment law (same-sex marriage, MCAD rules, new COBRA notices); intellectual property (joint licensing, alliances, M&A, joint ventures); insurance (directors and officers, pre-loss planning); real estate (negotiating lease provisions); antitrust (marketing and distribution); Internet law; international law (doing business overseas); supporting business growth; and "keeping secrets" (how to avoid getting in trouble with cell phones, camera phones and other technological marvels, special issues in working from home and recent statutes addressing privacy issues).

Last year NECCA continued the career services roundtable, which it instituted in Spring 2003 as a forum and support network for its members in transition or who were considering a job change. The discussions, which are held immediately after the luncheon, are facilitated by Stephen Seckler, a Boston area consultant, who coaches lawyers on an array of career issues, including creating better work/life balance and generating more business, and Stewart Hirsch, a NECCA member and principal of Strategic Relationships, who coaches attorneys on networking, practice development and client satisfaction. Non-member lawyers in transition or seeking career development guidance are also invited.

Issues discussed during last year’s sessions included how to better articulate goals and experience, identification of target companies, interviews, resumes and cover letters, preparation for meetings, severance negotiations and outplacement opportunities, resources, mentors, family issues and job satisfaction, goal setting and motivation and organization. NECCA intends to continue this post-luncheon roundtable during the 2004-2005 year.

NECCA affords a unique opportunity for networking among its members, who are particularly qualified to render advice and guidance to other in-house counsel. NECCA members have traditionally not only acted as a resource to one another with respect to issues such as compensation, job opportunities and the interplay of legal/management concerns, but also as a resource for discussion and consultation on specific legal issues, which is especially important for in-house counsel who may be the sole attorney in their organization.

Membership information for NECCA for the 2004-2005 membership year can be obtained by contacting NECCA’s administrator at (508) 881-5513 or by e-mail at [email protected] or at NECCA’s website at www.necca.com.

Emily A. Maitin is general counsel of The Nelson Companies, Ltd., a full service real estate development, property management, brokerage and construction services company, and has been a member of the Board of Directors of NECCA since 1995 and served as president of NECCA from 2000-2002.