When I attended the Institute for the Future of Law Practice event last month, it was a refreshing reminder of what I used to do more often: go to conferences and network!
I used to attend every ACC, Corporate Counsel, General Counsel Forum, and in-house conference I could fit onto my calendar. Most in-house events, however, have gone to a sponsorship or “pay to play” model. It’s ante up or stay away for service providers. My search firm has indeed sponsored events over the years, especially those supporting women and minority in-house counsel initiatives, but I write without apology that I have come to resent the buy-in level it takes to sponsor the major national conferences. They have become the playgrounds for “BigLaw,” LexisNexis, etc.
