For more information on why you should attend ACC’s annual meeting, visit: http://www.acc.com/education/am12/about/who-attends.cfm.

Tiffani Alexander is managing editor of the ACC Docket, the award-winning journal of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). She earned her BA in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has a MA in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago. Tiffani can be contacted at Alexander@acc.com.

As the sixth largest economy in the world, Brazil has become an attractive country to many businesses. At this year’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., an esteemed panel of experts on the country –– including Marco Antonio de Gregorio, legal director for Latin America, Reckitt Benckiser; Alexandre D’Ambrosio, general counsel and executive director, Votorantim Group; Eduardo Loyo, chief economist, BTG Pactual; Jose Diaz, partner, Demarest e Almeida; and Celso Xavier, partner, Demarest e Almeida ––presented on doing business in Brazil. The panel discussed Brazil’s legal landscape, delving into its legal structure, tax and anti-trust scenarios. They spoke about societal norms and how things have changed in the region over the years, including the nature of litigation, arbitration and restructuring, stronger laws focused on compliance, business entry and why it’s become important for companies to enter and invest in the country.

Loyo gave an economist’s overview of Brazil, discussing everything from trends in retail and industrial production, to income, inflation, public debt, and interest and unemployment rates. This led to a discussion of Brazil’s high growth rate — a contributing factor to the country’s attractiveness. In the early 1980s to 2000s, the rate of growth was less than 2 percent, but it more than doubled between 2003 and 2010, coming in at 4 percent. According to the panel, this growth acceleration caused consumers to spend too fast, “over-heating” the economy, which caused interest rates to stay higher than those in other places in the world. Further, Xavier pointed out that currency strengthening (another byproduct of the growth) could actually cause issues like heavy taxation and limited physical space for public spending on investment.

In the past year, the economy in Brazil has slowed down, returning to an approximate 2 percent growth rate. Further, according to the panel, interest rates have decreased from as high as 10 percent to a much more desirable approximant of 2 percent. They predicted that growth in the future will not be as fast or as slow as in the past, and said they expect “permanently lower interest rates with sufficient growth” moving forward.

Naturally, in-house counsel are most interested in the legal landscape of a country their company is contemplating entering into. According to de Gregorio, Brazil is “a country full of lawyers,” with statistics indicating that one in every 265 people in Brazil practice law. But it doesn’t stop there: “Every year, more lawyers enter the market, and there are 1,240 law schools,” said de Gregorio. He went on to discuss the 24.3 million new lawsuits filed in 2010, the approximately 84 million ongoing lawsuits in the country during any given year, as well as the four million laws implemented in the country since the 1988 Federal Constitution. Apparently, it is very cheap to file a lawsuit in Brazil, a civil law country, which accounts for the large number of suits filed.

Xavier discussed litigation in the country, stating that “the US way of drafting agreements does not work in Brazil –– we are a civil law country.” He went on to explain a few reasons why: There are no juries in Brazil, except in the case of murders; there is no discovery during trial; no punitive damages; and as Brazil is a large country, litigation will vary from place to place.

In addition to large number of “new” laws being implemented in the country, Brazil has also seen great tax reform, with 85 different taxes (73 federal, 6 state, and 5 municipal), 28.591 federal tax acts, 83.516 state tax acts, and 137.017 municipal tax acts. Again, understanding, or at least being aware of these taxes, is critical for foreign companies contemplating doing business in Brazil.

“The Brazilian Way” was sometimes used as a derogatory term in the past, according to D’Ambrosio, often describing a “way” to get around the laws. However, this is “quickly becoming a thing of the past” as companies strive to be compliant. Take, for example, Brazil’s tough anti-trust laws, focused on the investigation of illegal practices. “Brazil has the most aggressive anti-trust laws in the world and decided to pose the most aggressive fines in world,” said D’Ambrosio, adding that, “It’s a wonderful time for lawyers to make money.”

The Brazilian Way also encompasses a culture that values the diversity of its people and places a high value on personal relationships. This is important to remember as the in-house counsel assisting your company in gaining entrance into the country. According to Diaz, companies tend to enter Brazil through M&A, and that activity remains “strong” throughout industries. Areas of opportunity identified by Diaz included infrastructure (airports, roads, energy), oil and gas (biofuels, civil construction), and rural land. “Brazil requires infrastructure growth investment,” said Diaz.

Panelists offered the audience a few things to remember when forming a new company in Brazil: 1) The corporate structure options are Limitada (in pyramid form: partners up top, officers directly under) and S.A. (shareholders up top, with a board of directors directly under and the officers at the bottom), and there is no minimum capital requirement; 2) The rules for acquisition are different than in the United States; and 3) Liquidating a company there can prove difficult (if the company wants to divest it is better to do a merger).

The panel agreed that doing business or starting a business in the country can prove difficult due to its legal environment being in transformation, the complex tax system, its not-so-easy entry, and the new laws that must be complied with and understood. However, they also echoed the popular quote, “Brazil is the country of the future and always will be.” They called attention to the upcoming World Cup, saying that the country will see a “boom” over the next few years in every industry, and added that the substantial growth of the middle class makes it a good time to “get into the country.”

You should develop your own network because it is crucial to your success. You cannot do it alone! Nearly every successful person I know has a network of people that contributes to their success.

I just returned from Orlando and the ACC Annual Meeting where networking has long been recognized as one of its prime attractions. As the annual meeting logo states, it is “where in-house counsel connect.” ACC members return year after year for the education and the opportunity to interact with their in-house peers. The more than 100 programs even included a session on managing your career. Among other things, ACC President Veta T. Richardson noted that “networking skills can be taught and you can practice those skills.”

I offer a few simple suggestions about networking that I have learned over the years:

• Be a good listener — People value those who listen. Most folks do not like a “know it all” who dominates a conversation. Also, you will not learn very much if your mouth is always open. If it is “all about me,” your network will likely be very limited.
• Have an “elevator speech”— This is especially important if you are inexperienced or meeting someone for the first time. Always be prepared with what you want to say or ask, and be concise.
• Practice — Like the previous tip, this can be especially valuable if you are inexperienced or shy. Identify a topic and practice beforehand.
• Ask — Sometimes, all you need to do is reach out to someone and ask the question. You will be surprised by how many people are willing to help others, especially when approached the right way.
• Say thank you — Everyone likes to be appreciated and recognized. If someone helps you or even spends time with you, say thank you. Depending on the circumstances, this may be done publicly or privately. Either way, it is a simple gesture that is frequently forgotten.
• Know how to respond to a compliment — When you receive a “shout out,” the best response generally is to express appreciation for the recognition and acknowledge others who helped you.
• Give, don’t just take — Be helpful. I remember those who helped me, and I will gladly return the favor if I can. If you always seek favors, your network will shrink.

Personally, I can cite numerous examples of how I have been helped over the years. My network has:

• Answered questions — I would frequently reach out to peers and ACC members to get advice on how to solve a problem, start a new program, find outside counsel or simply where to begin when something new came across my desk.
• Served as a sounding board — Sometimes, I need to think out loud. Having someone outside the office with a fresh perspective can be invaluable.
• Mentored me — I am truly fortunate in that I had several ACC leaders who took the time and effort to provide me with wise counsel and advice long after they left office. It is always helpful to have someone who is vested in your success.
• Kept me informed and up to date — I cannot come close to counting the number of times I learned something from a conversation or note that kept me in the loop.
• Provided exposure — Attending conferences led to opportunities that enabled me to advance ACC’s agenda.
• Offered support in tough times — Like everyone else, I have had to deal with some bumps in the road. Whether professional career challenges or personal health issues, I received support frequently from unexpected places that helped me to carry on.
• Told me about job opportunities — I have been an in-house lawyer, private practitioner, lobbyist for a business organization and, until last year, President of ACC. In every instance, I learned about the job opportunity through my network. Indeed, I likely would not have become President of ACC but for a friend telling me about the opening and urging me to apply.
• Given me an opportunity to repay those who have helped me — What goes around comes around! The satisfaction from helping another coming along in our profession is reason enough to work actively at networking and remain in touch with colleagues new and old.

As I said, you cannot do it alone! And it is foolish to try.

ACC made “30 in 30”— it passed the 30,000 member threshold as it celebrates 30 years of service to the in-house community. It truly is “where in-house counsel connect” — use it to advance your career.

*This is a slightly revised version of a column that first appeared online in the October edition of Canadian Lawyer InHouse .

We look forward to seeing you next year for
ACC’s 2013 Annual Meeting!
October 27-30, Los Angeles, CA
Register today!

Unfamiliar with the terms “follow”and “hashtag”? Join us for a review of some of the basics of Twitter. On Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 10AM (EST), ACC’s Social Media Director, Zenneia McLendon, will host a one-hour Twitter Education seminar at the ACC booth. If you can’t attend, or just can’t wait until Tuesday, here is a quick Q&A Twitter crash course.

#ACCAM12 Twitter Education Q & A

 Q: What is Twitter?

A: Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest information about what you find interesting. Simply find the public streams you find most compelling and follow the conversations.

Q: How is Twitter useful?

A: Messages from users you choose to follow will show up on your homepage for you to read. It’s like being delivered a newspaper whose headlines you’ll always find interesting — you can discover news as it’s happening, learn more about topics that are important to you, and get the inside scoop in real time.

Q: Do I have to join Twitter to see what users are saying?

A: No. You don’t have to build a webpage to surf the web and you don’t have to tweet to enjoy Twitter. Unless the user chooses to deem their tweets/page “private,” which only their approved followers can view, all streams are public, including ACC’s @ACCinhouse.

Q: Why join Twitter?

A: Twitter provides unlimited access to user generated and shared information. (Including information from thought leaders in your industry!)

Twitter Glossary

• Follow: To follow someone on Twitter is to subscribe to their Tweets or updates on the site.

• Follower: A follower is another Twitter user who has followed you.

• At messaging “@”: The @ sign is used to call out a person/company using their username in a tweets. When a username is preceded by the @ sign, it becomes a link to that Twitter profile.

• Direct Message: Also called a DM or simply a “message,” these Tweets are private between the sender and recipient.

• Handle: A user’s “Twitter handle” is the username they have selected and the accompanying URL. (e.g., @ACCinhouse, www.twitter.com/ACCinhouse)

• Hashtag: The # symbol is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It also aids in searching and categorizing. Twitter hashtags are searchable (e.g., Go to Google.com and insert ‘#ACCAM12’)

• Retweet “RT”: A Retweet is a Tweet by another user that has been resent by someone. Retweets are often used to spread news or share valuable findings on Twitter.

If you can’t attend this year’s annual meeting in person, participate online via live webcasts! For more information, visit: www.acc.com/education/am12/program/webcasts.cfm. To check out all of ACC’s social media events at this year’s annual meeting, visit ACC’s Facebook page.

Noun: 1. A variable in a situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome

2. A special talent or quality

Last week, Fox Broadcasting premiered the second season of its hit show “The X Factor.” For those of you aren’t familiar with the program, “The X Factor” is a musical competition show where judges seek contestants with a certain “je nais se quoi” that will take them to the next level. In the end, winners usually receive a recording contract.

Although ACC isn’t showcasing the talent of the next singing superstar, we do have an x-factor of our own. Last year, we launched the ACC Member-to-Member (M2M) application. It provides members with a new way to connect with ACC and other in-house counsel on the go. And just last week, we updated the application to include information regarding this year’s ACC annual meeting. These updates will allow attendees of this year’s annual meeting to customize their experience from the palm of their hand.

For all you Simon Cowells out there, brewing with skepticism, here are the top five reasons to vote — I mean download — the M2M application:

5. Members can read ACC news and updates (including Twitter feeds, In-house Access blogs and Facebook posts);

4. Members can review, read, post and comment on eGroup postings;

3. The annual meeting application (integrated within the M2M application) allows members to view sessions, exhibits and speaker bios;

2. M2M is the world’s largest virtual community of in-house counsel, allowing you to network whenever and wherever you need it most; and

1. It’s free for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and Android users.

Now that our three-and-a-half minutes are up, what say ye, fair judges? Download the M2M app and tell us your thoughts in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!

My dad can fix anything. He is the kind of guy who likes to know how things work. He spent 26 years in the US Army. One of his areas of expertise was helicopter maintenance. I am sure the pilots who served with my dad were glad that he not only knew how to fix their choppers, but also kept an eye out for potential problems, grounding them when necessary. However, he worked hard to make sure there was one thing he never had to fix: his career.

The role of in-house counsel has changed since ACC was founded 30 years ago. In-house counsel’s focus today means that you not only have to maintain your company’s legal efforts, but you also have to keep watch for possible problems. On top of all that, you have to make sure your skill set is relevant in the workplace. How can you keep up with it all?

The July/August ACC Docket career issue is one of our favorites. Aside from hearing about the technical nature of your work, we like to hear about how you manage your career, mentor staff, provide valuable pro bono experience and contribute to the community. We know there are many facets to in-house counsel beyond the scope of the job. It’s why we enjoy meeting you in person.

ACC’s Annual Meeting is a great place to get started — whether you are interested in education, networking, professional growth or all three areas. I recently received a note from a member who had just been hired at a new job. She met her current employer over coffee at ACC’s 2008 Annual Meeting. Who says networking and meeting attendance doesn’t pay? And, the ACC Docket staff will be there. What more incentive do you need? See you in Orlando.

In preparation of ACC’s 2012 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., several ACC staff members took a site-inspection trip to visit the location of this year’s meeting, the Orlando World Center Marriott. Among the travelers were, Director of Education Liza Trey, Director of Information Technology Michaelle Shultz, and Director of Business Development Lucy Jones. Follow along as they each share their perspectives.

Liza on Logistics:

We chose the Orlando World Center Marriott because of its size and proximity to the adjoining convention center space. The space and accommodations at the property are excellent, as the location will allow ACC members to meet, network and learn all under one roof! There will be several networking opportunities since many of ACC’s affiliate members will host their social events on the property grounds. There are also plenty of windows and doors to keep those feelings of cabin fever at bay.

Not only does the property provide superior learning and networking facilities for ACC members, it also offers several family-friendly activities for those who choose to bring kids. Among other Orlando family-fun events, there are several swimming pools, shuttle buses to the parks, an arcade and a kid’s activity center.

If you would like more information on the Orlando World Center Marriott or ACC’s meeting, please do not hesitate to contact me at trey@acc.com.

Michaelle on IT:

I went on the site visit to test out the service and Wi-Fi availability at the Orlando World Center Marriott. I was pleasantly surprised with the open floor plan and the areas that were available for sitting and relaxing –– or for use as an impromptu workspace. The Wi-Fi service that ACC will be able to provide to members extends throughout the entire meeting space, and includes meeting rooms, shared spaces and the exhibit hall. In all meeting spaces, the data connectivity using my laptop, iPad, and cell phone to connect to webpages and mobile applications was consistent and speedy, however, if you’re expecting to use your mobile device frequently for calls and web-browsing, you may want to purchase the hotel’s daily data plan ($14.95), which made the speed acceptable and consistent.

For more information about technology availability, please contact me at shultz@acc.com.

Lucy’s Message to Sponsors:

Representing the ACC marketing team, I also tagged along on this site visit. From a 2012 Annual Meeting exhibitor perspective, I give the Orlando World Center Marriott two thumbs-up! While the Orlando destination will be different from previous ACC meeting sites in that everything is under one roof, I think this will ease our sponsors’ experience. The exhibit space is top-notch and less industrial than standard convention centers. Many amenities, like carpet, are already included. The space also affords new ancillary sponsorship options to make a great impression on ACC Annual Meeting attendees. Sponsors will be pleased to know that the exhibit hall and meeting rooms are all on one level, and reasonably close to each other. In addition, easy access to the center, natural light and nice views should enhance the exhibitor experience.

For more information about sponsor opportunities, please contact me at jones@acc.com.