The Section continues to emphasize the importance of innovation in delivering member value. Recent initiatives include a Podcast series, a Law Student Ambassador Program, a new In-House Counsel Summit, and a revamped Fall Forum Tech Summit.
At this year’s 2024 Midwinter Meeting, the Section celebrated innovation by recognizing the Committees and Taskforces that have developed the most creative programs and content over the past fiscal year. We congratulate the four winners of the Committee Innovation Award and sincerely thank them for their hard work and dedication to creating innovative content!
Cartel and Criminal Practice Committee: the introduction of skill-based webinar series - Introduction to Criminal Antitrust Enforcement and Defense - a four-part webinar series of practical skills-oriented sessions focused on cartel defense, investigations, resolution and trial tactics. Each program features US DOJ attorneys and leading criminal antitrust defense counsel, and seeks to attract new and early career attorneys to the Section. These programs are evergreen and can be reused for future CLE programs. Special mention to Niall Lynch, Caroline Ziser Smith, Michelle Cleary, Ashley Latham, Renee Turner, Sarah Akhtar and Ishita Rajani, Lauren Knoke, Emme Tyler, Laurine Daïnesi Signoret, Melanie Perez and Jeong Yeol Kim for their contributions to this innovation.
Federal Civil Enforcement Committee: the introduction of a new format for distributing content in the form of short-video clips, known as the Enforcement Report. The videos (which are about 5 minutes in duration) describe important developments in federal antitrust enforcement and are published on Communities and social media. The Committee uses generative AI to design the videos. The videos seek to attract new Section members and offer existing Section members with accessible and helpful content. Special mention to Jesús M. Alvarado-Rivera for his contribution to this innovation.
International Committee: the introduction of global content focused on early career attorneys in the form of a four-part series known as the Crash Course in Cross-Border Merger Work. The series breaks down the process of cross-border merger work into granular (and practical) detail. The series led to new member sign-ups, and the non-leadership panelists have remained active participants in Committee activities.
Special mention to Susan Hutton, Melanie Perez and Gideon Kwinter for their contributions to this innovation.Unilateral Conduct Committee: the introduction of interactive project management Committee tools, including inserting the Committee’s programming calendar, monthly meeting agenda and annual plan onto Google documents. This has enabled everyone involved with the Committee to observe Committee activities in real time and to actively participate in managing and achieving the Committee’s goals. This organizational and transparency tool has also enabled the Committee to be more nimble, has led to growing membership and has empowered Committee members to manage their assignments. Special mention Jody Boudreault and Bret Fulkerson for their contributions to this innovation.
Here’s to innovation!