Since my last message, ACC Europe has had a very busy start to calendar year 2006.  Having just concluded a very successful, over-subscribed and first-ever European Corporate Counsel University “CCU”, ACC Europe’s leaders have turned their attention to the fast-approaching 2006 Annual Conference “Taking the Lead for In-House Counsel”, 14-16.May 2006, at the Athenaeum Intercontinental in Athens.

If you intend to join your fellow members in Athens , but haven’t yet registered, please complete your registration forms without delay (programme and registration on-line at http://www.acca.com/acce/06)!!  Athens will prove an engaging conference with many opportunities to gain insight into how our in-house colleagues have “taken the lead” as in-house counsel.  You’ll see some of the “hot topics” you identified in ACC Europe’s most recent survey on the programme agenda.  And, if you can’t attend, but you know a colleague who might have an interest, I encourage you to forward this Newsletter to them.

ACC Europe membership continues to grow, and regional/local programming across Europe  has expanded in frequency and content diversity.  As well, ACC Europe has just completed relocating its legal domicile within Paris, FR, and is working to update content and material to better support European in-house legal professionals. One of ACC’s most distinguishing features is that it remains an association of in-house legal professionals focused solely on meeting the needs of fellow in-house colleagues.  Indeed, it is reassuring to have peers outside our employer organizations with whom to dialog, and valuable programme content to assist in developing professionally.

Most importantly, if you have an interest in getting more involved (or know of someone who should), e.g., as a board member, committee member or chair, country representative, content contributor to ACC Europe’s Newsletters or ACC Docket, or maybe in a new role that you might identify, I encourage you to express your interest now!  The collective commitment of our in-house ACC Europe leaders guarantees a continued wide variety of membership benefits.  Please contact Catherine Carton , ACC Europe’s Administrator at acceurope@acca.com(or any other of the ACC Europe leaders—contact information available on www.acce.com).

 Although I met a lot of new to in-house counsel in Amsterdam at the European CCU, I very much look forward to meeting many more of you personally in Athens.