The 2006 European Regional Meeting was in Vienna on September 29 and featured Dr. Maria Berger, an Austrian MEP and Rapporteur to the Parliamentary Committee on the proposed Rome 1 Regulation, and Oliver Parker from the UK Department of Constitutional Affairs. The program moderator was Christopher D'Angelo of Montgomery, McCracken, Walter & Rhoads, LLP in Philadelphia and President Bruce Parker offered a brief presentation on the IADC. The event brought approximately 30 members and guests together for a lively meeting followed by a reception. Following the meeting, some attendees enjoyed dinner and the Vienna Opera.

Thank you to local program chair William J. Perry, Charles Russell LLP, London, England and to our sponsoring firms: Charles Russell LLP; Lovells; Sedgwick Detert Moran and Arnold LLP; Venable LLP; Williams Kastner & Gibbs, PLLC; Morgan Melhuish Abrutyn; Phelps Dunbar, LLP; CMS Hasche Sigle; Clarke Silvergate Campbell Williams and Montgomery; Taylor, Pigue & Marchetti PLLC; Campbell, Campbell, Edwards & Conroy, PC; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; and Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads LLP.

The Chicago Regional Meeting on October 5 brought 38 members and guests together and included an extensive discussion on “Defending the Conduct of Directors and Officers in Litigation and Corporate/ Governmental Investigations.” The panel included Andy Richmond, Director, Navigant Consulting; Jim Sipchen, Partner, Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered; and Scott Nehs, General Counsel, PepsiAmericas. President Bruce Parker also offered a presentation on the IADC.

Thank you to sponsoring firms Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered; Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP; Iwan Cray Huber Horstman & VanAusdal LLC; Cremer, Kopon, Shaughnessy & Spina, LLC; Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, PC; Johnson & Bell, LTD; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP; and Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess LLP. Thank you to local chair Richard Waris, Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, Chicago, IL.

The Oklahoma City Regional Meeting had an excellent turnout on October 17 of 27 members and guests to discuss “What We Expect When We Retain Counsel” with speakers Amy Guzzy, Director of Legal Services, Love’s Country Stores; Paige Bass, Associate General Counsel, Sonic Corp. and its subsidiaries; and Henry Hood, General Counsel, Senior Vice President, Land and Legal of Chesapeake Energy Corporation. President-Elect Gino Marchetti also offered a presentation on the IADC.

Thank you to sponsoring firms Foliart, Huff, Ottaway & Bottom; Hiltgen and Brewer; The Law Office of Robert H. Alexander, Jr., P.C.; Hayes, Magrini and Gatewood; and Crowe & Dunlevy. Thank you to local chair Amy Fischer, Foliart, Huff, Ottaway & Bottom, Oklahoma City, OK. Thank you to our corporate sponsors City Reporters and IKON.

Thirty-seven IADC members and their guests attended the Portland Regional Meeting on November 2. Eva Kripalani, Senior VP and General Counsel of Knowledge Learning Corporation; James Dalton, Senior VP, Corporate Development of Tektronix, Inc.; and Peter Koehler, General Counsel of Nike, Inc. presented an outstanding program entitled "General Counsel's Expectations of Outside Counsel." The presentation was followed by a very lively and frank discussion on what counsel like and don't like to see. President-Elect Gino Marchetti also offered a presentation on the IADC.

Many thanks to our sponsoring firms Bullivant Houser Bailey PC; Miller Nash LLP; Williams Kastner & Gibbs, PLLC; and Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt; and Travis Thomas of Public Strategies for making this all possible. Leta Gorman, our local host, has raised the bar for Regional Meetings.

The Cleveland Regional Meeting on November 8 drew approximately 40 people including IADC Past Presidents George Gore and Greg Lederer, and Board member Joe Ryan. The panel discussion was preceded by a fresh seven-minute video (courtesy of the Cleveland Bar Association) that related to the discussion topic of diversity in the profession. The panelists were very enthusiastic invited audience participation. Immediate Past President Greg Lederer also offered a presentation on the IADC. The attendees then adjourned to enjoy very good appetizers and an open bar, compliments of the meeting co-sponsors. The Ohio Supreme Court approved the meeting for 1.25 hours of “Professionalism” CLE.

Thank you to sponsoring firms Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP; Brouse McDowell; Brzytwa Quick & McCrystal; Buckingham, Dolittle & Burroughs, LLP; Gallagher Sharp; Janik & Dorman, LLP; Jones Day; McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., L.P.A.; Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur; Sutter, O'Connell & Farchione; Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP; Thompson Hine; Tucker Ellis & West; Ulmer & Berne LLP; and Weston Hurd, LLP. Thank you to local chair Ralph Streza, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, Cleveland, OH. We also thank Jim McCrystal for helping recruit the firm co-sponsors. Thank you to our corporate sponsor Public Strategies, Inc.

The Little Rock Regional Meeting on November 9 drew 31 attendees including three potential candidates for membership. The reception began at 5 p.m. and at 6 p.m. the program began how we are doing as lawyers from a judge’s and an in-house counsel’s perspective. Judge James Moody, a former IADC member, spoke about things that were effective advocacy from his perspective as a trial judge. Next, Jeff Davis, Associate General Counsel over Tort Litigation for Wal-Mart, spoke on what distinguishes law firms from his perspective and Wal-Mart’s perspective. He was quite frank which made the program very informative. Board member Lyn Pruitt also offered a brief presentation on the IADC.

Thank you to sponsoring firms Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins LLP; Bridges, Young, Matthews & Drake; Daily & Woods; Friday, Eldridge & Clark; Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.; Shackleford, Phillip Wineland & Radcliff PA; and Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow, P.L.L.C. Thank you to local chair and IADC Board member Lyn P. Pruitt of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

The Nashville Regional Meeting on November 15 went very well with approximately 25 people attending. President-Elect Gino Marchetti talked about the IADC. He was followed by Laura Proctor, associate general counsel with LP Building Products, and Sheree Wright, University Counsel at Vanderbilt University. They addressed the group on the topic of critical issues facing in-house counsel. The discussion focused on issues with e-discovery and hiring of outside counsel. President-Elect Gino Marchetti also offered a presentation on the IADC. The program was followed by a cocktail reception.

Thank you to sponsoring firms Waller Landsen Dortch & Davis, LLP; Miller & Martin, PLLC; Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC; Sherrard & Roe, PLC; and Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. We offer a special thank you to local chair Lela Hollabaugh, Waller Landsen Dortch & Davis, LLP.

The first Detroit Regional Meeting was held on November 16 at the Detroit Country Club. The meeting drew approximately 20 attendees including IADC President Bruce Parker, who offered a brief presentation on the IADC. Special guests included Reggie Turner, Past President: Michigan Bar Association and Immediate Past President: National Bar Association; and Tom Cranmer, Current President: Michigan Bar Association. Thank you to sponsoring firm Clark Hill, Plunkett Cooney and Dickson Wright and a special thank you to local chair Dan Scully of Clark Hill.

The Orlando Regional Meeting on November 30 was a huge success with approximately 40 members and guests in attendance. Local host Mike Wiggins planned an excellent program with three corporate members on the panel to discuss the pros and cons of using the media "offensively" in litigation. The panel included Scott Justice from Walt Disney, Emily Frascaroli from Ford and John Maxa from Crown. The discussion was lively and easily could have continued for another hour. President Bruce Parker and Board member Bud Clarke were also in attendance, and President Parker offered a brief presentation on the IADC.

Thank you to sponsoring firm Cabaniss, Smith, Toole & Wiggins, PL and to local chair Mike Wiggins, Cabaniss, Smith, Toole & Wiggins, PL. We also offer a special thank you to our corporate sponsor Public Strategies, Inc.

The New York City Regional Meeting on December 12 brought more than 75 members and guests including all of the IADC officers. Special thanks to Jeff Campbell of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. for putting together the meeting. Jeff had his partner, Connie Matteo, serve as a moderator of a panel discussion that featured Linda Willett of Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Karen Mayer of Penquin Group and Catherine Muldoon of BDP International. The topic was "Effective Communication With In House Attorneys-Navigating Differences in Gender."

Thank you to sponsoring firms Boeggeman, George, Hodges & Corde, PC; Chadbourne & Parke, LLP; Condon & Forsyth, LLP; Connell Foley, LLP; Dechert LLP; DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary; Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge; McCarter & English; Molod, Spitz & DeSantis, PC; Nixon Peabody, LLP; Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC; Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis, LLP; Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan Griffinger & Vecchione; and Venable. We offer a special thank you to our corporate sponsor Public Strategies.