2021 Schedule
The 2021 Securities Regulation Institute is a virtual conference hosted by Northwestern Pritzker School of Law via 6Connex. Session times and speakers are subject to change.
Monday, January 25, 2021
8-8:05 a.m. - Welcome and Overview
Juliann Cecchi, Assistant Dean, External Partnerships, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Thomas J. Kim, Institute Chair, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Washington, DC
8:05-8:45 a.m. PST - Alan B. Levenson Keynote Address
Featuring 10-minute individual interviews with SEC Commissioners
Allison Herren Lee (Acting Chair)
Caroline A. Crenshaw
Hester M. Peirce
Elad L. Roisman
Moderators
Dixie L. Johnson, King & Spalding LLP, Washington, DC
Thomas J. Kim
8:45-8:55 a.m. PST - Break
8:55-9:55 a.m. PST - The SEC in 2021 - Looking Ahead
- How will a new administration change the SEC's focus?
- What can/should the SEC do to facilitate capital formation and economic
recovery? - What are the areas of "unfinished" business in the current SEC and what
impact will a new chairman have on those items? - What does every company need to know about what to expect with a
transition to new leadership of the SEC?
Session Chair
Richard H. Walker, King & Spalding LLP, New York City
Panelists
Harvey Pitt, Chief Executive Officer, Kalorama Partners LLC & former Chair, SEC, Washington, DC
Mary L. Schapiro, Vice Chair for Global Public Policy, Bloomberg L.P. and Senior
Adviser to the Founder; Head of the TCFD Secretariat, New York City
Mary Jo White, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York City & former Chair, SEC, Washington, DC
9:55-10:05 a.m. PST - Break
10:05-11:05 a.m. PST - General Counsels Speak - Looking Ahead
- COVID-19 consequences: managing the impact on the workplace and the workforce
- Racial and social justice: corporate purpose and values, pressures on boardroom diversity
- Geopolitical risks: from data sovereignty to doing business with the government
- Dealing with employee activism and expectations
- Environmental/social/governance disclosures — who’s responsible for oversight?
Session Chair
Kellye Walker, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN
Panelists
Rhonda S. Ferguson, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Secretary, The Allstate Corporation, Northbrook, IL
Scott Morgan, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Global Affairs & Secretary, Splunk Inc., San Francisco
Jennifer G. Newstead, Vice President and General Counsel, Facebook Inc., Menlo Park, CA
Karen P. Seymour, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Goldman Sachs, New York City
11:05-11:40 a.m. PST - Lunch Break
11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m. PST - Companies in Distress
- Advising management and the board of a company in financial distress
- Disclosure concerns and other securities law issues for companies in financial distress and in bankruptcy
- Process for surviving a debt restructuring
- Handling non-financial distress, poison pills, and shareholder activism
Session Chair
Rebecca J. Simmons, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York City
Panelists
Senet S. Bischoff, Latham & Watkins LLP, New York City
Chad J. Husnick, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago
David A. Katz, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, New York City
12:40-12:50 p.m. PST - Break
12:50-1:50 p.m. PST - Capital Markets: Private Company Financing
- Regulatory update – harmonization and private financings
- Trends in late-stage financings
- Secondary liquidity and employee benefit considerations
- Handling "down" rounds and other conflicts effectively
Session Chair
Dawn Belt, Fenwick & West LLP, Mountain View, CA
Panelists
Stephanie Brecher, General Counsel, New Enterprise Associates, Timonium, MD
Brian C. Patterson, Gunderson Dettmer, San Francisco
Michael Wu, Deputy General Counsel, Carta Inc., San Francisco
1:50-2 p.m. PST - Break
2-3 p.m. PST - Capital Markets for Reporting Companies
- From founders' letter to follow-on: what companies need to be aware of in the first year post-IPO
- Green bonds, sustainability bonds, and other trends in debt offerings
- Furnish vs. file: updating guidance concurrently with deal launch
- Ineligible issuers: how to issue registered securities
Session Chair
Sarah K. Solum, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Silicon Valley, CA
Panelists
Samir Gandhi, Sidley Austin LLP, New York City
Kathryn Hall, Vice President Legal and Head of Corporate, Google, Mountain View, CA
Richard A. Kline, Latham & Watkins LLP, Menlo Park, CA
3-3:45 p.m. PST - Cocktails & Conversation at the Virtual Del: Breaking Down the Day
Moderators
Steven E. Bochner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Palo Alto, CA
Gordon K. Davidson, Fenwick & West LLP, Mountain View, CA
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
7-8 a.m. PST - The Collision of Heightened Corporate Fraud Risk in the COVID-19 Era and Recent SEC Enforcement
Trends: Is Your Company Prepared to Respond?
Sponsored by Charles River Associates
- Current economic environment, financial fraud, and white collar prosecutions
- SEC enforcement under the Biden administration
- SEC focus on disclosures to affect corporate conduct
- Understanding the SEC's EPS Initiative
Speakers
Kevin Bennett, Vice President, Charles River Associates, Chicago
Peter K.M. Chan, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Chicago
Lorraine B. Echavarria, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Los Angeles
Ken Mathieu, Vice President, Charles River Associates, Chicago
8-8:10 a.m. PST - Break
8:10-9:10 a.m. PST - Division of Corporation Finance - Looking Ahead
Speakers
Meredith B. Cross, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, New York City
Keith F. Higgins, Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston
John W. White, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York City
9:10-9:20 a.m. PST - Break
9:20-10:20 a.m. PST - Recurring Disclosure Challenges
- COVID-19: what more to say in 2021?
- New human capital disclosures
- Dealing with contingencies and legal proceedings
- Guidance: updating it, withdrawing it, restarting it
- Complications from share buybacks and Rule 10b5-1 plans
Session Chair
Thomas J. Kim
Panelists
Michael L. Hermsen, Mayer Brown LLP, Chicago
P.J. Himelfarb, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Washington, DC
Marko S. Zatylny, Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston
10:20-10:30 a.m. PST - Break
10:30-11:15 a.m. PST - Accounting: What Lawyers Should Focus on in 2021
- Hot IPO accounting issues being addressed in Corp Fin OCA today
- Applying the new acquisition disclosures, including whether to present optional management synergies
- Focus on non-GAAP and performance measures continues, including whether and how to adjust (or not adjust) for COVID-19 impacts
- Today's challenges from the preparer perspective: from valuations, estimates, and impairments to effectively working from home
- Going concern disclosure takes on a new urgency
Session Chair
John W. White
Panelists
Alice L. Jolla, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Vice President, Microsoft, Redmond, WA
Mark Kronforst, Partner, Professional Practice, EY, Washington, DC
Lindsay McCord, Chief Accountant, Division of Corporation Finance, SEC, Washington, DC
11:15-11:25 a.m. PST - Break
11:25 a.m.-12:10 p.m. PST - Auditing
- Impact of COVID-19 on internal controls and the 2020 audit
- CAMs: lessons learned
- Revised auditor independence rules
- The audit committee's role in ESG, key performance indicators, and other disclosures
Session Chair
Brian V. Breheny, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Washington, DC
Panelists
Christine Q. Davine, National Managing Partner, Quality, Risk & Regulatory, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Washington, DC
Michael J. Scanlon, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Washington, DC
Diana Stoltzfus, Deputy Chief Accountant, Office of the Chief Accountant, SEC, Washington, DC
12:10-12:20 p.m. PST - Break
12:20-1:05 p.m. PST - A Conversation with Chancellor Andre G. Bouchard
Moderator
Eric Talley, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law, Co-Director, Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership, Columbia Law School, New York City
1:05-1:15 p.m. PST - Break
1:15-2:15 p.m. PST - M&A Trends and Developments
- State of the domestic and global M&A marketplace as the pandemic continues — where we've been and what lies ahead
- Revisiting deal certainty in acquisitions of public and private companies – why do we make it so difficult for buyers to walk away?
- Impact of COVID-19 on M&A – new case law and changes in practice
Session Chair
Richard E. Climan, Hogan Lovells US LLP, Silicon Valley, CA
Panelists
Ting S. Chen, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York City
Marni J. Lerner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York City
Leo E. Strine Jr., Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, New York City/Wilmington, DE
2:15-2:35 p.m. PST - Break: Sponsored by Houlihan Lokey
2:35-3:35 p.m. PST - Securities Class Action and Shareholder Litigation: Key Developments and Trends
- Litigation update: major developments in securities and M&A litigation
- The latest on shareholder derivative actions, including trends related to COVID-19, ESG, cybersecurity, and other areas
- D&O insurance, corporate charter considerations, settlements, and the in-house perspective
Session Chair
Adam Hakki, Shearman & Sterling, New York City
Panelists
Susanna M. Buergel, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York City
Koji Fukumura, Cooley LLP, San Diego
Amanda Vaughn, Deputy General Counsel and Global Head of Litigation, Bank of America, New York City
3:35-3:45 p.m. PST - Break
3:45-4:45 p.m. PST - Proxy and Annual Meeting Developments
- Lessons learned from virtual meetings in the 2020 proxy season – how to deal with shareholder participation
- Governance trends and developments, including board diversity
- Shareholder proposal trends and the new rule amendments
- Perquisites – applying the definition to travel and entertainment expenses
- Proxy advisory firm developments
Session Chair
Lillian C. Brown, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Washington, DC
Panelists
Zally Ahmadi, Senior Vice President, Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation, D.F. King, New York City
Krystal Gaboury Berrini, PJT Camberview, San Francisco
Keir D. Gumbs, Associate General Counsel, Corporate Transactions and Deputy Corporate Secretary, Uber Technologies Inc., San Francisco
4:45-5:20 p.m. PST - Cocktails & Conversation at the Virtual Del: Proxy Talk
Moderators
Lillian C. Brown
Keir D. Gumbs
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
7-8 a.m. PST - The 10 Worst Things to Do When an Activist Comes Knocking (and What to Do Instead)
Sponsored by Abernathy MacGregor
- Settlement trends
- Hostile approaches
- COVID-era uncertainty increasing vulnerability
- ESG being used as a cover
- The rise of poison pills
Speakers
Ian Campbell, Vice Chairman, Abernathy MacGregor, Los Angeles
Sheila Ennis, Senior Vice President, Abernathy MacGregor, San Francisco
Amy Lissauer, Managing Director, Global Head of Activism and Raid Defense, Bank of America Corporation, New York City
Patrick Tucker, Managing Director, Head of M&A and Activism, Abernathy MacGregor, New York City
8-8:10 a.m. PST - Break
8:10-9:10 a.m. PST - Updates from SEC Senior Staff: Division of Enforcement and Office of the General Counsel
Speakers
Richard R. Best, Director of the New York Regional Office
Michael A. Conley, Solicitor, Office of the General Counsel
Erin E. Schneider, Director of the San Francisco Regional Office
Moderator
Dixie L. Johnson
9:10-9:20 a.m. PST - Break
9:20-10:20 a.m. PST - Ethics: Representing the Private Equity Sponsor and Its Public Portfolio Company
- Representing two clients with common facts but different interests
- Addressing conflicts — before and after they arise
- Managing risks under Model Rule 1.7
- The foreign subsidiary — novel UK ethical issues
Session Chair
Karl A. Groskaufmanis, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Washington, DC
Panelists
Sean Curran, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, London
Anthony E. Davis, Clyde & Co US LLP, New York City
George M. Kryder, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Dallas
10:20-10:30 a.m. PST - Break
10:30-11:30 a.m. PST - Managing Risk in SEC Enforcement Investigations
- How to respond to whistleblower complaints or conduct internal investigations in a remote work environment
- COVID-related enforcement and litigation matters
- Impact of federal forum selection bylaws on securities litigation
- Current status of SEC and DOJ cooperation credit
- Impact of recent Supreme Court decisions
Session Chair
Joan E. McKown, Jones Day, Washington DC
Panelists
Robert A. Cohen, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Washington DC
Arian M. June, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Washington DC
Matthew C. Solomon, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Washington, DC
11:30-11:40 a.m. PST - Break
11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m. PST - MD&A Disclosure: How to Do It Really, Really Well
- Approaches to drafting MD&A
- Evaluating known trends and uncertainties
- Non-GAAP and key performance indicators
- New MD&A requirements and guidance
Session Chair
Richard C. Blake, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Palo Alto, CA
Panelists
Karen J. Garnett, Proskauer Rose LLP, Washington, DC
Sandra J. Peters, Senior Head, Global Financial Reporting Policy, CFA Institute, New York City
Jimmy Yang, Managing Director and General Counsel, Capital Markets & Corporate Reporting, Citigroup Inc., New York City
12:40-12:50 p.m. PST - Break
12:50-1:50 p.m. PST - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Securities Law but Were Never Given the Chance to Ask...
Session Chair
David M. Lynn, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Washington, DC
Panelists
Dennis O. Garris, Alston & Bird, Washington, DC
Shelly Heyduk, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Newport Beach, CA
Scott Siamas, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel of Corporate, Securities & Global Governance, Salesforce, San Francisco