VSB 50th Anniversary Edition of the Advanced Business Law Conference

September 20-21, 2024

Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, VA

Presented by the Business Law Section of the Virginia State Bar in cooperation with and with the support of the Virginia Bar Association Business Law Section

The 21st Century Business Lawyer:  Counseling Businesses in the Age of Innovation and Increased Regulation

“Business” law used to be a more discreet and manageable area of legal practice “expertise”.  In the “Innovation Economy”, the “business lawyer” must become an expert in the client’s business and industry.  By doing so, the business lawyer can guide the client through a much larger universe of constantly changing, industry-specific and often “lagging” (i.e., behind economic, technological and business model shifts) laws and regulations.   Increasingly, the business lawyer must collaborate with other attorneys who are focused in specific practice areas, as well as the client’s accountants and other advisers. As a result, while serving as the client’s primary counselor (or “coach”), the business lawyer must also coordinate the work of other lawyers (or serve as a “quarterback” or “gatekeeper” of the client’s team of legal and other advisors).  Especially for small and “lower-middle-market” companies, a business lawyer who can provide both sound business counsel and coordinate the work of an interdisciplinary advisor team can dramatically enhance the value, efficiency and effectiveness of the business’ legal planning and regulatory compliance.  

This special 50th Anniversary edition of the Conference is designed to equip business lawyers with updates on some of the most common, cutting-edge and rapidly-evolving legal issues facing, and practical tips regarding planning opportunities available to, private companies today.  These updates, including new or changing laws and regulations and practical planning tips, should better position the business lawyer to perform his or her evolving business counselor roles – including as a “coach”, a “quarterback” and “gatekeeper”.