Stanford Directors' College Is Back: Join Us

The Stanford Directors' College is back and resuming its in-person event at Stanford Law School on June 19 to June 21, 2022. As one of the premier learning and networking events for company directors and executives in the US, Stanford Directors' College tackles the current issues and hot topics facing boards today.

Stanford Directors' College hosts a jam-packed agenda of keynotes, panel discussions, expert-led sessions, and networking opportunities. I will be there along with my partner Dan Burke as we attend the event and serve as speakers on the following:

• Hot topics for boards
• Corporate litigation and government investigations
• Cyber security

Hot Topics for Boards in 2022

June 20, 2022 | 8:45 a.m. –10:00 a.m.

Moderated by Professor Joe Grundfest of Stanford University, I’ll be speaking in this panel session along with other experts who will help the audience navigate questions like:

• When should corporations or CEOs speak out on controversial political and social issues?
• How, if at all, should corporations adjust their approach to political contributions and lobbying?
• How should boards respond to diversity in the boardroom and in the company?
• How should corporations address work-from-home and COVID-19 safety concerns?
• What are the implications of the expansive new ESG disclosure mandates proposed by the SEC?

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic:

• ESG: A Primer for Boards
• Governance Disclosure and the SEC’s Proposed Climate Rules
• Boardroom Diversity Rules for Public Companies
• Governance Disclosure and the SEC’s Proposed Climate Rules
• Politics in the Boardroom: Which Side Are You On?

Defend Your Company, Defend Yourself: Litigation and Government Investigations

June 21, 2022 | 11:10 a.m. –12:10 p.m.

I’ll be speaking on another panel of experts about corporate litigation, where we discuss the answers to the following questions and more:

• What can directors and officers do to make their companies and themselves more defensible from lawsuits?
• How should directors and officers navigate the complexities and challenges of government investigations?
• What protections are available and how does indemnification agreements and D&O insurance come into play?

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic:

• Securities Class Actions Report: Filings Against Public Companies Down for Second Year in a Row
• State Choice of Forum Provisions: Streamlining Fiduciary Duty Lawsuits, Including Diversity Suits
• Short Reports: The Latest Litigation Threat?
• Shadow Trading: The SEC’s New Angle on Illegal Insider Trading
• D&O Game Changer: Delaware Approves Using Captives for D&O Insurance
• Take Personal Indemnification Agreements Seriously
• The DOJ’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force: Be Prepared

Ransomware and Cybersecurity: Be Prepared

June 21, 2022 | 11:10 a.m. –12:10 p.m.

My colleague, Dan Burke, who is Senior Vice President and National Cyber Practice Leader here at Woodruff Sawyer, will be speaking on a panel of experts about cyber security.

Audience members will get a better understanding of current cyberattack strategies and state-of-the-art approaches to addressing risk in this critical area. The session will also discuss the value of cyber insurance as a risk mitigation strategy.

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic:

• Looking Ahead: Cyber Liability Insurance Concerns in 2022
• Board of Directors: Prioritize Your Cyber Risk
• If You Do This, You Might Not Get “Attorney Work Product” Protection During a Cyber Breach
• Is Your Board Prepared for the Growing Risk of Ransomware Attacks
• Ransomware-as-a-Service: Fueling the Latest Large-Scale Attack
• Three Things to Consider Before Paying the Ransom from a Ransomware Attack

A discount is available for Stanford Directors' College for Woodruff Sawyer friends and clients. Please contact your Woodruff Sawyer account executive or me, Priya Cherian Huskins, at Priya@WoodruffSawyer.com for more information.

For further attendance and conference information, visit the Stanford Directors’ College website.

For more D&O continuing education events throughout the rest of the year, check out our Board Education Resource Guide.